IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


^  ^^4s. 


1.0 


1.25 


Sf   Ufi    12.0 


U    11.6 


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Hiotographic 

^Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  S72-4S03 


■1>^ 


\ 


:\ 


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0 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  institute  for  Historical  IMicroreproductions  /  institut  Canadian  de  microraproductions  historiquas 


■i 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniquss  et  bibliographiques 


Thi 
ton 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checf.ed  below. 


D 


D 
D 


□ 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommag^e 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  pellicul^e 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  giographiques  en  couleur 


□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


D 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relii  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serrde  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout^es 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  film6es. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl6mentaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6tA  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m^thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquto  ci-dessous. 

□    Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

□    Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag^es 

I — I    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


D 


Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pellicul6es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxe< 
Pages  d^colortes,  tachet^es  ou  piqu6es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d^tachdes 

Showthroughy 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  in6gale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materif 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppl^mentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


Th< 
poi 
of 
fiM 


Ori 

be( 

the 

sioi 

oth 

firs 

sior 

ori 


I — 1  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I      I  Pages  detached/ 

r~r|  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I — I  Only  edition  available/ 


The 
she 
TIN 
whi 

Mai 
diff( 
enti 
beg 
righ 
reqi 
met 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc..  have  been  ref limed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  M  film^es  d  nouveau  de  fapon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmi  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  1MI  22X 


26X 


30X 


J 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


Tha  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library, 

Department  of  National  Defence 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quelity 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grSce  d  la 
g6nArosit6  de: 

Bibliothkiue, 

MinlstAre  de  la  DMente  Nationale 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetA  da  l'exemplaire  filmi,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprim6e  sont  filmis  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  ces.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmAs  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  darni6re  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernlAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ^>  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc..  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  6tre 
filmis  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  filmd  d  partir 
de  Tangle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas.  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n6cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mithode. 


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2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

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GEOGRAPHICAL  VIEW 


OF    THE  V, 

FMOVINCE  <0W  UI^WEM  CANAJDJ 

AND 

PROMISCUOUS   REMARKS  ON  THE  COVERN'MEXT 

•  •  ■*  ■ 

m  TWO  PARTS, 

WITH  AN  APPENDIX: 

CONTAINING  A  COMPLETE  DESCRIPTION  OF  THR 

^N^UGARA  FALLS. 

AND   REMARKS   RELATIVE    TO    THE 

^JfUAtlON  OF  rttk  INJtiJnjtANtS  RESPECTlNC   tHE   WaH^ 

AND  A  CONCISE  HISTORY  CF  ITS  PROGRESS,  TO 

9'HB  PJtESENr  DATE. 

^- 

BY  M.  SMITH. 


NEW-YORK  : 
PRINTED  FOR  THE  AUTHOR,  BY  PELSUE  ik,  GOULD. 

August,  1813. 


Price  50  Cents, 


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DiBTniCT  OP  CONNSCTICVT,  TO  vriT .  ~  ' 

BE  IT  REMEMBERED,  That  on  the  twenty-fourth  day 

[L.  S.]    of  April,  in  the  thirty-seventh  year  of  th&  Independence  <of 

the  United  States  of  America,  MICHAEL  SMITH,  of  thesaid 

District,  hath  deposited  in  this  office,  the  title  of  a  book,  the  right  whereof 

he  claims  as  author,  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

"  A  Geographical  View  of  the  Province  of  Upper  Canada,  and  promiscii 
ous  Remarks  upon  the  Government.  In  two  part«i.  Wuh  an  Appendix,  ron- 
tiiining  a  complete  description  of  the  Niagara  Falls,  and  remarks  relative 
to  the  situation  of  the  inhabitants  respecting  the  war.    By  M.  Smivh/* 

In  conformity  to  the  Act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  entitled, 
'*  An  Act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning,  by  securing  the  copies  of 
Maps,  Charts,  and  Books,  to  the  authors  and  proprietors  of  such  copies, 
during  the  times  therein  mentioned." 

H.  W.  EDWARDS, 
Clerk  of  the  District  of  ConneclicuU 
\  true  copy  examined  and  sealed  by  me, 

H.  W.  EDWARDS, 
Clerk  of  iH  Distritt  of  Cormeiticiit.    ' 


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ADVERTISEMENT. 


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Jpromiscii 
endix,  con- 
ks relative 

s,  entitled, 
■  copies  of 
uch  copies, 


cuU 


nr   ' 


IT  is  proper  here  to  inform  the  publu*,  iinii  parlicii- 
larly  those  who  subscribed  for  this  work  more  than  a 
year  ago,  that  more  than  two  years  since,  I  made  ap- 
plication to  the  then  governor  of  Upper  Canatia,  Fran- 
cis Gore,  esq.  for  liberty  to  take  and  print  a  Oeograph- 
ical  and  Political  View  of  the  province,  and  obtained 
his  approbation.  In  June,  1812,  I  agreed  with  the 
printers  in  BufTaloe,  for  the  publication  of  the  work, 
and  sent  them  part  of  the  manuscript  before  the  declar- 
ation of  war^  which  event  prevented  the  publication. 
In  December,  by  virtue  of  a  proclamation  of  the  gover- 
or,  in  favor  of  citizens  belonging  to  the  United  States, 
I  obtained  a  passport  to  leave  the  province  with  others. 
I  have  now  published  a  complete  Geographical  View 
of  the  province,  but  have  left  out  the  Political  View, 
instead  of  which,  I  have  subjoined  remarks  respecting 
the  war  while  I  was  in  the  province ;  and  also,  a  con- 
cise account  of  it  to  the  present  date  of  this  second  edi- 
tion. 


V    '^     }'■     ="1*^ 


^■^rJf. 


1       I 


•\.' 
[.*. 


PREFACE. 

IT  is  a  common  practice  among  authors,  to  beg  an  in- 
troduction of  their  works  to  the  pablic,  bj  making  an 
humble  apology  for  the  crime  of  writing :  but  I  cannot 
r'onceive  that  I  have  done  wrong  in  publishing  this 
work,  but  rather  lament  that  it  has  not  appeared  soon- 
er and  better  executed.  However,  it  may  not  be  amiss 
to  inform  the  public  that  I  was  induced  to  this  business 
about  three  years  ago,  while  in  Canada,  from  a  belief 
that  a  full  and  impartial  account  of  the  province  would 
he  acceptable  and  useful  to  my  fellow -citizens,  as  of 
late  years  many  have  been  in  the  habit  of  moving  there. 
Vnd  I  also  knew  that  a  correct  geographical  account  of 
the  province  of  Upper  Canada  had  never  been  pub- 
lished ;  whatever  had  been,  was  brief  and  defective, 
i  may  add,  tliat  the  mildness  of  the  climate,  fertility  of 
; be  soil,  benefit  of  trade,  cheapness  of  the  laud,  and 
morals  of  t)t^  'inhabitants,  so  far  exceeded  my  expecta- 
lions  and  the  apprehensions  of  the  pnblic  in  general ;  I 
^leemed  it  my  duty  to  make  known  the  same. 

I  will  also  observe,  that  I  have  wrote  from  expert- 
uieutal  knowledge,  and  not  merely  from  what  has  been . 
suggested  by  others.  8ome  may  imagine,  because  I 
write  thus,  that  I  have  a  partiality  for  the  En^^Iisih — 
but  this  I  solemnly  deny ;  I  only  descnibe  things  in  their 
I  rue  characters,  with  the  impartiality  of  an  historian. 
I  began  this  work  before  the  war ;  I  undertook  it  with 
an  earnest  desire  to  benefit  some,  I  care  not  who ;  if  any 
;?.re  benefitted  I  shall  be  gratified ,:  in   short,  I  write 

this  Pro  Bono  Publico, 

'  -J  - 

IFhtchester^  Jprilj  t6,  IS  13. 


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rife 


.  PART  I. 


s  . , 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  DISTRICT  OP  LONDON,  (uPPER 

CAJJADA.) 

This  district  is  bounded  east  by  Indian  land, 
on  Grand  River,  north  by  the  wilderness,  west 
by  the  western  district  at  Detroit,  and  south  by 
I^ke  Erie,  along  the  north  shore  of  which  it  ex. 
tends  about  90  miles.  The  district  of  London 
is  certainly  much  the  best  part  of  Canada-  It 
is  sufficiently  level,  very  rich,  and  beautifully 
variegated  with  small  hills  and  fertile  valiies, 
through  which  flow  a  number  of  pearly  streams 
of  almost  the  best  water  in  the  world. 

In  this  district  there  is  a  large  quantity  of  na- 
tural plains,  though  not  m  very  large  bodies, 
and  not  entirely  clear  of  timber.  This  i;  nd  has 
a  handsome  appearance,  and  afS^rds  fine  roads 
and  pasture  in  summer.  Here  the  farmer  has 
but  little  to  do  only  tc  f^^jdce  his  land,  and  put 
in  the  plough,  which  indeed  requires  a  strong 
team  at  first,  but  afterwards  may  be  tilled  with 
one  horse.  These  plains  are  mostly  in  the  high? 
est  part  of  the  ground,  are  very  rich  and  weU 
adapted  for  wheat  and  clover.    The  surface  of 


1 


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1 1 


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the  earth  in  this  district  is  almost  entirely  clear 
of  stone;  it  is  of  a  sandy  quality,  (especially  the 
plains)  which  renders  it  very  easy  for  cultiva- 
tion. • 

This  district  is  situated  in  the  4 1st  degree  and 
40  minutes  of  north  lat.  and  is  favoured  with  a 
temperate  climate.  The  summers  are  sufficiently 
long,  to  hring  all  the  crops  to  pefection,  if  plant- 
ed in  season :  indeed  there  is  hardly  ever  any 
kind  of  produce  injured  by  the  frost. 
*  This  is  the  best  part  of  Canada  for  wheat, 
and  I  believe  of  any  part  of  the  world :  from 
20  to  35  bushels  are  commonly  gathered  from 
one  acre  of  ground,  perfectly  sound  and  clear 
from  smut.  Corn  thrives  exceedingly  well,  as 
also  all  other  kinds  of  grain.  Apples,  peaches, 
cherries,  and  all  kinds  of  fruit  common  to  the 
United  States,  flourish  very  well  here.  Wood- 
land sells  from  two  to  five  dollars  an  acre.  The 
timber  of  this  district  consists  of  almost  all  kinds 
common  to  the  United  States. 

The  inhabitants  of  this  district  enjoy  a  greater 
degree  of  health,  than  is  common  to  observe  in 
most  places :  but  doubtless  there  are  reasons  for 
this,  founded  on  natural  principles  and  among 
which  are  the  following : 
c^  1  St.  The  inhabitants  are  from  their  prosperous 
situatiovi,  exempt  from  the  necessity  of  labour- 
ing too  hard,  and  at  the  same  time  are  called  to 
a  moderate  share  of  industry,  which  promotes 
the  health  of  the  body  and  mind. 


naBE9M 


'^y  clem 
iaJJy  the 
cultiva- 

ee  and 
with  a 
iciently 
f  plant- 
er any 

wheat, 
:  from 
i  from 
I  clear 
ell,  as 
aches, 
to  the 
V'ood- 
The 
kinds 

eater 
vein 
IS  for 
long 

rous 
our- 
dto 
:>te8 


2d.  The  most  of  the  people  were  poor  when 
they  first  came  to  the  province  :  of  course  had 
been  accustomed  to  live  on  the  simple  necessi- 
ties of  life,  and  yet  retain  a  wise  moderation  in 
eating  and  drinking,  which  also  very  much 
prevents  the  introduction  of  disease.  v  ^ 

M.  The  climate  is  quite  temperate,  and  ac- 
cording to  the  observation  of  many  who  have 
lived  in  the  place  16  years,  sudden  changes 
from  hot  to  cold,  or  cold  to  hot,  is  not  so  com- 
mon as  in  most  places  in  the  United  States,  or 
Europe.  The  winter  commences  gradually,  and 
goes  off  in  like  manner.  The  snow  in  this  dis- 
trict has  never  been  known  to  be  more  than  20 
inches  deep,  and  generally  not  more  than  12. 

4th.  All  the  water  in  this  district  is  clear  from 
any  foreign  body,  is  pure,  and  of  the  lightest 
order ;  the  most  of  people  make  use  of  springs 
or  brooks,  which  are  in  great  plenty,  and  are 
clear  and  cool  nine  months  in  the  year:  neither 
are  they  very  often  made  muddy  by  rain,  the 
land  through  which  they  run  being  of  a  sandy 
quality. 

5th.  The  soil  being  of  a  sandy  quality,  as  ob- 
served above,  naturally  produces  sound  and 
sweet  grain,  and  vegetables :  the  using  of  which 
very  much  promotes  the  health  of  the  consumer. 

6th.  The  people  of  this  Canadian  paradise  are 
more  contented  in  their  situation  of  life,  than  is 
common  to  observe  in  most  places,  which  also 


\ 


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8 

"i^ry  much  preserves  the  heahh  af  .^ 

a  contrary  disposition  tendrtorfl  "'*".'  ""»"« 

.  This  District  is  divided  imA'°^  "• 

viz.   Norfolk,  MiddK    ""*\*J!:^e  counties, 

twenty  five  tiwn  hios   «ii    "r""*  u?^'""'"'''  ^^ 

,     scribe  in  a  brieTmi*"  °^  ""^''^  ^  '*'"  ^^ 

ThisCoL^^Sh"^  ^''^NTy. 
^'Strict,  joinii  he  Siore  7?  r^*'*  ^'^  *« 

the'^tntrSfni'S  'V^%  T""^^'  ^^o™-  of 
Grand  River.lnd  thetl.  ?*"  '*"^  «"  *e 
Wy  well  supplied  \S  St  *'''"?•    "  «  '"lera- 

.ThegroundTLvdand  v^?r  •''1^*"°"«  '^"O^- 
y  settled,  in  conslq™  ^KJ  j.'lj?"^''  '''^• 
together  being  owntrf  k!        ?®  ''°'^'®«  "^'anrf 

le  comainsi  gZ'mUh  Tf '"  ^"S'*"'*' 
sawmUl,  Itannfr  2«Z1'    f*""®'  '  ^c^^oo'.  I 
.     T,,,     .  RAiSSS!'^-'' » '»«or. 

'arge  bodies  of  land  in  7w!^L     u^^'^  ^'^  «'«> 

'»na  in  this  township,  ovyned  by 


n»  while 
it. 

counties, 
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clear 

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iby 


the  rich  of  England  and  other  countries,  which 
very  much  prevents  the  population  of  the  town. 

It  contains  two  large  streams  of  water,  viz. 
Stony  Creek  and  Nanticoke,  with  several  smal- 
ler ones— 1  blacksmith,  1  tailor,  1  mason,  1 
tanner,  2  shoe-makers,  1  joiner,  1  grist-mill,  2 
saw  mills,  I  distillery,  I  store,  I  school,  one  re- 
ligious society  (Dutch  Lutherans)  and  1  divine. 

WOODHOUSE. 

Is  thickly  inhabited  by  rich  farmers ;  and  is 
well  supplied  with  timber  of  various  kinds, 
three  miles  from  the  lake  shore ;  after  which  it 
it  is  chiefly  plains,  beautifully  interspersed  with 
fine  groves  of  timber.  The  soil  of  this  town- 
ship is  of  a  sandy  quality,  almost  entirely  free 
from  stone,  and  of  course  very  easily  cultivated. 
This  kind  of  sandy  land  is  very  rich,  not  only 
on  the  surface,  but  far  beneath.  1  have  seen 
corn  and  other  things  planted  on  sand  rhat  was 
thrown  up  from  d  to  20  feet  deep,  which  grew 
to  great  perfection  ;  nor  will  it  wear  out  in  a 
short  time.  I  have  known  land  of  this  kind  in 
the  township  under  cultivation  16  years,  with- 
out ever  being  manured,  to  produce  25  bushels 
of  wheat  per  acre. 

This  township  has  been  settled  20  years,  with 
people  from  New- Jersey,  New  York  and  Penn- 
sylvania; and  is  famous  for  apples  and  peaches. 
It  is  watered  with  three  large  streams,  which 
afford  many  fine  falls  for   water-works,   viz. 


-# 


III  i 


■  I  •--♦  ■ . . 


10 


'    T°»»g »«  Patterson's,  and  Bluoh  r     •         - 
ther  with  several  other  smaJ?f'^'''« '  ^«ge- 
sulphurous  spring  It  cLtT-    ?  *"?^^'  *'«'  one 
six  grist  miiia^  S "twoXir/^"  ^'"*''^^'»''H 
one  fulling „  u  onr2i.^;*'-'  fr^"/*^""'"'' 
seven  storts,^twomasonIK^  ""."'.  <'  ''"W'erie^ 
lors.  4  «hoe.maker37;*rr«  Tr^'  ''^^  '«^ 
g'ous  societies  (MethodST?  /y  •  ""'V^  '■^«- 
mm  ng  house  CM.)  ?  vil£e  rn^'""f'  ^^"^  » 
sophical  society  3  schoo  !  ?  i"'^^'''^  '  P^^^o- 
^ey.  and  1  masonic  soi^^""*"'' '  *"°^- 

-d^tL^r„i;t^t"sr  1^^^^ 

though  Of  possibfii'Ser  waL^'r ?^^^^  «l- 
settled  about  seventeen  vH"^*^-  ^'  ''^^  ^een 
thf  United  States        "  ^^*'"''  ^^  People  from 

blacksmiths  Tc:;;emtrr?':f''^'  '  '"""^^  » 
'  potter,    I  physician  2  r',?  f'*""^*'   ^  Matters, 

Methodist  and  I  fiSsf/f'^'*'"?  '°'''^««»   (» 
2  public  buildinesfiS  '  f^^^'^g house  (B.) 

finging-schooJ'S  3  r?.T  ''""f '  ^"^  J*"^ 
is  a  mine  of  exSentTrnn  ^  'f'''°'*-     ^^ere 
ed.     There  are  also  "'°f  """^  '^'^'^  <Ji«oover. 
marshes,   or  natura    mL^'^'  "'""^'^  shallow 

*^re  is  annually  Snalrr'"'  ^''"'  '^hich  •, 

*  " .    ;  ^®  quantity  of  hay. 


i»W'.  ■ 


X 


-*^- — ■.. 


-s 


w 


ion,  al> 
ias  been 
^^e  from 

fs,  3  dw- 
Uors,  3 
lattersr, 
ies   (I 
56  (B.) 
fail;  1 

Inhere 
Jover- 
allow 

^hich  * 
hay. 


•  .r 


-       WALSINGHAM,* 

Lies  directly  west  or  rather  south-Vest  of 
Charlotteville,  on  the  lake  shore.  The  soil  is 
very  rich  and  level,  and  better  timbered  than 
Charlotteville,  though  not  quite  so  well  watered, 
nor  so  thickly  settled.  The  greater  part  of  the 
inhabitants  are  Dutch.  i  k^  f 

It  contains  one  grist  mUU  l  saw- mill,  2  distil- 
leries, 1  tanner,  2  shoemakers,  2  blacksmiths, 
1  tailor,  ^weavers,  S^joiners,  2  mapons, !  hatter, 
1  religious  society  (Methodist)  aqd  2  schools. 

HOUGHTON,  '^ 

Is  directly  south-west  of  Walsingham,  on  the 
lake  shore,  and  will  bear  nearly  the  same  de- 
scription, though  it  is  thinly  settled,  e:^cept  pn 
the  east  side,  the  land  being  chiefly  owned  by 
gentlemen  in  England. 

It  is  watered  with  1  fine  stream,  called  Big 
Creek. 

MIDDLETON, 

Lies  north  or  back  of  Houghton  and  Wal- 
singham. In  this  township  there  are  many  plains 
and  natural  meadows — well  watered,  rich  and 
clear  of  stone,  though  as  yet  without  improve- 
ment. Big  Creek  flows  through  the  township, 
on  the  banks  of  which  is  a  sulphurous  spring 
of  great  strength. 

WINDHAM, 

Joins  Middleton  on  the  east,  and  Charlotte- 

*  From  this  township,  extends  Long-Point.  IS  miles 
into  the  lake.    No  one  lives  on  it. 


<«.*ii. 


■       .A 


V^>^' 


-*» 


12 


fe.:;, 


..'« 


ville  and  Woodhouse  on  t^e  north.  It  id  part- 
ly plain  and  partly  timber  land,  very  rich,  clear 
of  stone,  well  watered,  aild  tolerably  thick  set- 
tled with  a  civil  and  industrious  people  from 
the  United  StateSi 

Unimproved  land  sells  cheap  here-^from  one 
and  a  half  to  three  dollars  an  acre. 

It  contains 2^ shoemakers,  2  tailors^  S  weav- 
ers, 2  joiners,  1  mason,  1  tanner^  1  hatier,  I 
store,  2  schoiolS}  2  religious  societies  (one  Con- 
gregationalist  and  one  Methodist)  one  circulat- 
ing library,  and  one  divine  (Congregationalist.) 

TOWNSEND. 

This  township  joins  Windham  on  the  easti 
and  Woodhouse  and  Rainham  on  the  northy  is 
chiefly  rich  natural  plains,  which  are  beautiful- 
ly interspersed  with  groves  of  timber,  leveh 
well  watered  and  clear  of  stone.  It  is  thickly 
settled  with  rich  farmers,  who  raise  great  quan- 
tities of  grain  and  cattle. 

Townsend  contains  4  gristmills  in  2  places, 
3  saw  miUs,  3  blacksmil^hs,  3  distilleries,  2  tan- 
ners, 4 shoemakers,  2  weavers,  4  joiners,  1  hal- 
ter, 1  mason,  B  physiciansi  4  stores^  1  mine  of 
red  clay  nearly  equal  to  Spanish  brown,  2  di- 
vines (one  Baptist  and  one  Methodist)  2  meet^ 
ing- houses  (one  Congregationalist  and  oneBap^ 
tist)  and  4  schools. 

OF  OXFORD  COUNTY. 

This  county  is  situated  north  of  Norf(4k  and 
Middies'^x,  towards  the  heads  of  the  Thames 


•l^rimil  •iWJIWiMfJWflW''^****'**'** 


« 


■^ 


IT  ■■  i^  * 


^^  impart- 
ch,  clear 
hick  see< 
ie  from 

'Ottione 

weav- 
tter,    I 
eCofl. 
^rculat- 
nalist.) 

e  east?, 
rth,  is 
utiful. 
level, 
lickjy 
quan^ 

'aces,  ^ 
tan- 
haft-; 

leof 

2*. 

>ee0^ 


les 


13  «    . 

land  Grand  Rivers,  and  is   divided  into  six 
townships,  about  twelve  miles  square. 

BURFORD. 

Lies  north  of  Townsend,  joining  the  Indian 
land  on  the  ^ast.  It  is  partly  plains,  level,  rich, 
sandy,  well  watered,  and  pretty  thickly  settled. 

It  contains  2  tailors,  1  hatter,  1  tanner,  3 
shoemakers,  2  blacksmiths,  2  joiners,  1  grist- 
mill* 2  sawmills,  1  distillery,  I  fulling  mill,  3 
physicians,  2  religious  societies  (Methodists) 
and  3  schools. 

BLENHIEM, 

Lies  north  west  of  Burford.  It  consists  of 
plains  and  timbered  land,  rich,  well  watered, 
and  tolerably  thick  settled. 

It  contains  2  grist  mills,  2  saw-mills,  I  tan- 
ner, 2  shoemakers,  2  blacksmiths,  1  distillery, 
2  weavers,  and  2  joiners. 

OXFORD. 

This  township  lies  west  of  Blenhiem  and 
Burford,  is  rich,  well  watered,  thickly  timber- 
ed, settled  and  well  improved  by  industrious 
people,  from  the  states  of  New- York  and  Ver- 
mont. The  people  in  this  town  are  famous  for 
making  butter  and  cheese.  .  ^  ■* 

It  contains  2  grist-mills,  2  saw  mills,  2  distil 
leries,  2  tanniers,  3  shoemakers,  2  masons,  2 
2  hatters,  2  carpenters,  3  blacksmiths,  2  tailors, 
I  fulling-mill,  2  physicians,   1  divine  (Baptist) 


« 


I't'tt 


•^f 


14 


3  religious  societies  (2  Methodists  and  I  Bap- 
tist)  1  court-house  and  a  jail.  *  .  »^ 

NORWICH, 
Lies  west  of  Oxford  on  the  beautiful  river 
Thames,  is  very  rich  and  exceediiig  well  "^va* 
,     tered  though  tolerably  thick  set  wi«i  timber. 

This  township  has  not  been  settled  more 

^  than  seven  years,   yet  it  contains  a  c(»isidera- 

^■JIf"  ble  number  of  inhabitants,  chiefly  Irom  the 

^     state  of  New. York.  They  are  mostly  Qiiakerln 

f »     or  Friends,  and  have  a  decent  mdetipg  house 

for  the  worship  of  God. 

4     It  contains  1  gristmill,  2  sawmills,  1  tanner, 

.    2  shoemakers,  1  tailor,  2  blacksmiths,  2  carpen« 

ters,  8  weavers,  1  hatter,  1  potter,  1  physioian, 

and  2  schools. 

DIERHAM. 
Is  goed  land,  well  watered,  though  but  thin* 
ly  settled.    It  is  thick  set  with  timber. 

It  contains  1  blacksmith,  2  shoemakers,  1 
joiner,  1  rel^ious  society  (Methodist.)  ^U 

BLENFQRD, 
Is  nearly  like  Dierham,  and  contains  oilto 
saw-mill)  one  black-smith,  two  schools,  one  tan- 
ner, two  shoemakers,  one  joiner,  and  one  reli- 
gious society,  (Methodist.) 

OF  MIDDLESEX  COUNTY.  " 

This  county  lies  directly  south- west  of  Nor- 
folk, joining  the  lake  shore,  and  is  exceeding 
fich,  well  watered  with  a  number  of  fine  streams, 


*  ■'■**    •"■*M!«*/vW'^«f -^i 


M 


md  J  Bap. 


ttfal  river 
well  wa. 
timber, 
tied  in6re 
'oiisiderji. 
ftott^  Ibe 

ftTiakert 
>Dg  house 

1  tanner, 
2carpen. 
hysioian, 


but  thin. 
ifcew,    1 


onetan- 
►ne  reli- 


>f  Nor- 
'eeding 
reams, 


4b 


« 


Id 


•M'^ 


is  level,  and  almost  entirely  clear  of  stone.  The 
common  growth  of  timber  is  bass,  black  and 
white  walnut,  with  hickory,  maple,  and  oak. 

Jt  is  not  more  than  two  years  from  the  time 
I  write*  J  April  1812,  since  this  county  has  been 
open  for  dettlement,  of  course  it  cannot  be  ex- 
pected that  there  are  many  water  works,  me- 
chanics, orthelike;  I  therefore  shall  omitnam- 
ic^  the  number  in  any  Township,  but  proceed 
to  name  the  Townships,  and  on  what  terms  this 
excellent  land  may  be  obtained.* 

TMs  County  is  divided  into  ten  Townships: 
those  tying  (^  the  lake  siiore  are  Malahide,  Bay- 
ha^  Southhold,  Yarmouth,  and  Dunwich : 
Those  on  the  north  part  are  Dorchester  West- 
minslerf  Delaware,  Yarmonthy  and  Marlbor- 
©ugh. 

The  land  is  exceding  rich  in  these  Towships 
and  the  surface  more  level  than  is  common, 
th^re  being  no  signs  of  trees  having  been  for- 
merly turned  np  by  the  roots  here  or  any  where 
the  west  side  of  the  Grand  River. 

Spme  few  years  ago  there  was  a  road  opened 
by  the  government  8  miles  from  the  shore  of 
I^ke  Erie,  parallel  ^ith  (he  same,  about  50 
miles  long,  as  also  one  on  the  lake  shore  and 
another  from  the  middle  to  the  north.  On  both 
sides  of  these  roads  lots  of  200  acreo  of  land 


**.  These  re  mar' 
lioti  of  war. 


were  written  before  the  dcclara- 


i 


i 


5^ 


J 

■P' 


^^m 


■j' 


(    ■ 


'r 


R 


(( 


i  16 

have  been  given  to  settlers  by  the  King,  and 
now  may  be  obtained  by  any  person  on  the 
following  terms. 

First.  Every  person  that  wants  a  lot  of  200 
acres  (for  no  one  person  can  get  more  from  the 
King)  mnst  take  the  oath  of  allegiaxice  to  his 
majesty  before  some  of  his  majesty's  justices  of 
the  peace,  a  certificate  of  which  he  must  procure. 

Secondly,  he  must  then  go  to  Col.  Thomas 
Talbert,  now  agent  for  the  King  respecting  the 
land,  who  lives  on  the  place,  and  shew  him 
the  certificate  of  the  oath,  and  inform  him  of 
the  wish  to  obain  a  lot  for  settlement,  who  vnll 
point  out  those  that  are  not  engaged;  they  may 
then  take  their  choice.  • 

Thirdly.  They  must  then  pay  to  Col.  Talbert, 
or  some  other  proper  person,  37  dollars  and  a 
half,  for  which  a  receipt  isgiven..^ 

Fouthly.  They  thin  must  within  the  term 
of  2  years,  clear  fit  for  cultivation,  and  fence, 
10  acres  of  the  lot  obtained  and  built  a  house 
16  by  20  feet  of  logs  (or  frame)  with  a  shingle 
roof,  also  cut  down  all  the  timber  in  front  of, 
and  the  whole  width  of  the  lot,  (which  is  20 
chains)  133  feet  wide,  33  Jeet  of  which  mtist  be 
cleared  smoth  and  left  for  half  of  the  public 
road  * 

Fifthly.  They  must,  with  or  without  a  family, 

*  The  cutting  of  the  timber  for  133  feel  is  omitted  as 
aset  tling  duty  on  lots  which  lie  off  from  the  main  road.*.. 


*' 


King,  and 
■on  on  the 

lot  of  200 
^  from  ehe 
ace  to  his 
justices  of 
it  procure. 

Thomas 
Bctingthe 
hew  him 
1  him  of 
who  will 
^y  may 

TaJbert, 
rs  and  a 

he  term 
i  fences 
Ei  house 
shingle 
ont  of, 
i  is  20 
itistbe 
public 

imily- 


17 


SUf 


be  actual  settlers  on  the  said  lot,  within  and  at 
the  end  of  2  years. 

When  all  the  things  are  done  (no  matter  how 
soon)  Col.  Talbert  will  give  them  a  certificate 
of  the  sam^,  which  they  must  take  fd  the  Land 
Office  in  York,  upon  which  they  will  get  a  deed 
for  the  said  lot,  which  is  a  deed  of  gift  from 
the  King.  The  37  1-2  dollars  called  the  fees  is 
what  necessarily  arises  as  an  expense  from  the 
sunreying  and  giving  it  out. 

In  the  spring  oiP  1812  there  were  600  lots 
taken  up  for  settlement  and  was  then  400  more 
to  be  disposed  of  by  government,  besides  about 
300  in  the  possession  of  Col.  Talbert  to  be  sold 
at  private  sale. 

The  settlers  of  these  lots  are  almost  altogether 
natives  of  the  United  States. 


8  2 


t. 


ittedas 
road.. 


fence,  the  iaJres  Ontario l  !^  i®  "''«•■  S«-  Law- 
terco^^„^.^^u«te„o and  Erie,  and  the  wa 
TOO  miles,  and  is  500  «£«  ^5^  ^^P^™'  "bout 

;»agu«.ry  Jine  that  divwS  k  ff  *''^?^^^g 'oan 
on  the  north.    The  I  ni  fif    /'^°*  New-Britain 

^rancwco,  and  taktc  «       'a'«ude  45  at  Lake 

;*^e,  an^j  jg     erounri  Tf    ®    ^®*^  ^^^e  above 
oS»~ *'K1^« tt.Ti""'*  «? 

'-'etJ'oit,  so  throuffh  th^ZiVJ  '**  *«  head  near 

'«««'ca«onsand£ke:src1;T"«'-«"« 

^'*''' Huron,  Sttperi. 


Hi.  V' 


19 


J 


^  STATf. 


>  of  Dp. 
ininutes 
ends  a- 
'•  Law- 
he  wa 
*  about 
ig  toan 
Britain 
>mthe 
;Lake 
se  by 
magi- 

from 

bove 

dis. 

lage 
riy* 

|0n. 

the   \ 

die   ^ 

ke, 

?ar 

m- 

rl 


or,  LongLake».and  Lake  of  the  woods:  thence  a 
due  west  course  to  the  head  waters  of  the  river 
Mississippi. 

In  these  bounds  there  is  a  very  large  quantiy 
of  exceeding  fertile  land  uninhabited,  particular- 
ly in  the  south  western  parts.  Here  nature 
blooms,  untrod  by  man  and  smiles  with  virgin 
charms  to  draw  him  hence. 

Nor  do  I  doubt  but  that  the  time  is  near  when 
settlements  will  be  made  in  these  regions,  espe- 
cially if  his  Majesty's  successors  to  the  British 
throne  should  possess  such  a  benevolent  disposi- 
tion as  George  III.  who  has  always  been  willing 
to  give  any  one  land  in  the  province  without 
money  or  price.  Should  this  be  the  case,  the 
wilderness  will  soon  become  a  fruitful  field,  and 
the  desert  like  the  garden  of  Eden.t 

Soil  and  Surface. — ^There  are  no  mountains 
in  the  province  of  Upper  Canada,  and  but  very 
few  hills  of  any  considerable  height :  yet  the 
eountry  is  not  of  a  clear  level  but  affords  enough 
of  small  hills  and  high  bodies  of  ground  to 
render  it  agreeable  to  the  eye,  and  convenient 
for  cultivation,  buildings,  water  works,  &c.  &c. 

The  mountain,  slope,  or  sudden  rise  of  ground, 
which  divides  the  waters  of  Lake  Erie  from  Lake 

^  These  remarks  were  wroie  before  the  declaration  of 
of  war  by  the  American  government  against  England  or 
the  invasion  of  Canada  :  yet  should  it  fall  into  the  posses- 
sion of  the  United  States,  this  remark  would  beequally  true. 


i;,^  ■■ 


^    20 

Burlington  Bay,  keZ'T'  ^^  ^^»'  •"  «'a"ed 
t^e  Bay  «  sou  heasrcool"!""^  '"«  *«»d  of 
coirae  near  the  south  sSo^T/ 1*.^"  *"  ««teriy 
or  two  miles)  till  i«ar  an^    k*^^^  ^"^O'Cone 
outlet  of  Lali  E^^ZiT^J}  '^^^^^sthe 
the  south  of  Ontario     Tw    '.'•'^''fteen  miles  to 
PJacesfive  hundred  feet  hS'lf '  '""'"' '"  ""Me 
lar;  abounding  with  c^aSS^fu°t^  Perpendicu-  ' 
's not  more  than  tiolfZ'^!^'-^'''  ingeneraf. 
hundred  feet,  and  thenThl  "^  ""^  ^^'^  °'  three 
««.  mostly  in  the  ffr^T  of  arS  T^  ^* 
garden,  with  natoral  offse?.  «?     "^''^'^  summer 
y^rds  wide:  there  are  Sm^  ""l'  *'^^  '^""•Jre* 
f®«j!-    On  these  offser««   ^  ''"'  ''^  *e^e 
inhabitants  who  have  S^  *!!  P'^^'-^ons  with 

f«l  prospects,  espe;KZl''T'^^"^'»a"«- 
tap.  ^  ""V  these  who  reside  on  the 

■Here  the-  pva  /»<m« 
fertile  fields  SoTSrf^""'*  P^'^™  «"  all  the- 
of  the  Lake  oSSr^tJ^n'Sr'"'""^^^  ^'^w 
of  the  northern  shore  ft  J^"^  ^^'  and  some 
ground.  thewhSe'Ji^Sj^^j^Pofthisrise^f 
heautifBl.  no  hill  to  deSl^-^^^'  ^^'•"te  an* 

g^watersonthesotttSofthT^    Nearly  all 
Jake  Erie;  though  there  arf/°P^'""n'nto 


^ 


tbwest 
( called 
.ead  of 
asterly 
to,(one 
Bs  the 
lies  to 

some 

idicu- 

fieraF, 

three 

grad- 

fimer 

dre* 

hese  . 

with 

auti- 

the 

the 
iew 
me 
>of 
Jid 
all 
ito 

nd,   ; 
ne 

le    / 
?1" 


21 

lent  falls,  on  which  there  are  famous  water  works 
at  present.  A  considerable  part  of  this  slope  is 
composed  of  craggy  limestone  rock,  particularly 
the  steep  parts,  and  from  which  flow  a  great 
number  of  fine  springs  and  brooks,  which  water 
the  fertile  plains  below. 

Southwest  of  the  Niagara  falls  about  30  miles, 
and  not  far  from  the  close  of  Lake  Erie,  there 
are  what  are  called  the  short  hills.  Some  df 
these  have  the  form  of  little  mountains,  though 
none  of  them  are  high  or  hard  of  ascent,  and 
may  be  cultivated  nearly  all  over.  These  hills 
are  quite  rich. 

All  along  and  not  far  from  the  north  shore  of 
Lake  Ontario  the  ground  rises  tolerably  sudden 
and  considerably  high,  after  which  the  country 
to  the  north  is  level  enough.  There  are  few 
stone  on  the  surface  of  the  ground,  in  any  part 
of  the  province,  and  on  the  west  side  of  the  Grand 
River  there  is  no  stone  at  all,  worth  naming,  yet 
there  are  stone  enough  beneath  the  surface  almost 
every  where  and  in  many  places  limestone  is 
plenty. 

The  soil  oi  the  province  of  Upper  Canada  is 
exceeding  good  in  every  part,  yet  if  possible  it  is 
the  best  in  the  upper  part  west  and  southwest  of 
the  head  of  the  fiay  Quantie  around  the  north 
shore  and  head  of  Lake  Ontario,  and  the  west 
side  of  the  Grand  River,  in  th  e  London  district 
alreadly  described.  The  lower  part  of  the  Prov- 


sw; 


22 


ill 


'X 


ince  is  sand  and  clay,  mixed;  from  the  head  of 
Ihe  Ba/  Quantie  to  the  head  of  Lake  Ontario^  it 
is  altogether  a  black  light  rich  mould,  in  most 
places  7  inches  deep,  after  which  it  is  brown 
clay.  On  the  Grand  River  or  Indian  Land  and 
in  the  London  District,  the  soil  is  sand,  brown 
loanii  and  clay. 

Natural  Production,  The  timber  of  the 
lower  part  of  the  Province,  is  chiefly  hemlock, 
birch,  and  beack  That  of  the  middle  part, 
or  from  the  beginning  of  Lake  Ontario  to  the 
bead  is  chiefly  beach  sugar  maple,  and  white 
pine.  On  and  west  of  the  Grand  River  the  chief 
of  the  timber  is  white  pine.  Elm,  bass,  black 
walnut,  and  the  different  oaka,  chesnut  and 
the  like,  indeed  in  this  part  of  the  province  are 
found  all  the  varieties  in  the  United  States ; 
^also  some  of  the  trees  of  the  balm  of  Gilead, 
lone  of  a  majestic  appearance  stands  24  miles 
•  west  of  Niagara  on  the  main  road.  In  the  lower 
pj^vt  of  the  province  there  is  but  little  of  any 
kind  of  wild  fruit,  but  in  the  middle  part  there 
are  several  sorts,  particularly  huckleberries  and 
rice.*    In  the  western  part  there  are  a  great 

*  This  rice  grows  in  the  bottom  of  several  shallow 
lakes;  the  stalk  is  nearly  like  the  stalk  of  oats.  The  grain 
is  larger  than  common  rice,  but  not  so  white,  but  ra- 
ther a  better  taste  and  not  so  hard  to  clean.  The  In- 
di?ins  collect  it  with  their  canoes,  and  bring  large  quanti- 
ties of  it  among  the  inhabitants,  which  they  sell  very 
chean. 


viriety  of  v^M  fniits,  and  are  the  following : 
Cranberries,  rasberries,  Uackbenries,  grapes, 
sarvesberrieSi  wild  potatoes,  which  were  ex. 
ceeding  useftti  to  tho  first  inhabitantSy  straws 
berries,  pltnbs  of  H  very  good  sort,  as  also  a 
great  quantity  of  the  best  crab  apples  lever 
saw,  which  the  inhvtbitants  of  new  settlements 
ude  by  pre^rving  with  the  moYasses  of  pump- 
kins. '  '• 

Agriculfnre.'^lxi  the  lo^^  ^Urt  of  tlie  prbt^ 
ince,  there  are  Considerable  quantities  of  wheat, 
oats,  and  peas  raised.  In  the  middte  part, 
wheat,  ryO)  oats,  peas,  hemp,  flax,  and  some 
corn,  in '  the  western  parts  th^  product  is 
wheat,  which  thrives  better  here  than  in  other 
parts;  rye,  oat^  and  corn,  come  to  great  per* 
fection  as  also  bu^k- wheat.  All  kinds  of  roots 
and  vegitables  flourish  well  in  any  part  of  the 
province,  but  especially  in  the  west.  Apjsles 
come  to  perfection  in  any  part  of  the  province, 
though  peaches  cannot  be  raised  in  the  lower 
end,  but  do  exceeding  well  within  300  miles  of 
the  west  end  of  the  province,  as  also  cherries, 
pears,  plums,  apricots,  and  the  lifke. 

All  kinds  of  tame  cattle  do  well  in  any  part 
of  the  province,  but  especially  horned  cattle 
and  sheep  thrive  here,  and  are  exceeding  heai< 
thy.  Bees  do  exceeding  well  on  Lake  Ekie 
and  are  plenty  in  the  woods.         -\^        -4-,^j 

Climate, — The  climate  of  the  Upper  Prov- 
ince is  temperate,  especially  near  the  head  of 


»''  (   ''I 


i*^'- 


1i 


".^t': 


Mi  - 


24 


Lake  Ontario  and  on  west  joining  the  shore  or 
of  Lake  Erie.  All  this  part  of  the  province 
lies  in  the  same  latitude  as  from  New-York  to 
Springfield  in  Connecticat,  yet  as  it  is  several 
degrees  to  the  vrest,  it  is  y^armer  than  the 
weather  in  the  same  latitude  east.  It  is  also 
evident  from  the  experience  and  journal  of 
several  discerning  pc^rsonst  thaihaye  lived  near* 
1y  20  years  in  this  part  of  Canada,,  that  the 
weather  does  not  change  so  often  and  sudden 
from  heat  to  cold  and  cold  to  heat  as  in  most 
other  places;  nor  are  the.  seasons  of  wet  and 
dry  so  extreme  as  they  are  in  the  United  (espe- 
cially the  southern)  States.  The  shower9  of 
rain  are  moderate  and  plentiful  owing  per- 
haps to  the  bounty  of  heaven,  and  the  multi- 
tude of  line  lakes  of  water  with  which  the  prgv- 
ince  abounds. 

The  air  of  the  lower  part  of  the  province  is 
rather  too  sharp  in  the  winter,  yet  truly  salu- 
brious and  healthy ;  the  air  in  the  upper  part 
4  or  500  miles  to  the  soiathwest,  is  quite  pleas- 
ant. What  is  a  little  remarkable,  but  which 
is  true  according  to  a  diary  of  the  weather 
which  I  kept  for  2  years,  the  wind  blew  more 
thau  2  thirds  of  the  winter  or  for  4  months^; 
from  the  west,  but  hardly  ever  from  the  north 
or  northwest ;  yet  in  the  summer  it  blew  almost 
constantly  from  the  north.  All  the  snow 
storms  in  Canada  come  from  the  north-east, 


*;V- 


T^'  t>?' 


it'-->-lH' 


4J;^,/*i 


* 


re  or 
ince 

k  ta* 
ireral7 

the^f 

alsa 
il  of. 
ear- 

the  - 
den 
nost 
and 
spe- 
9  of  -^ 
)er. 
ilti- 


^ 


V^ 


,  2d 


*  ■ 
if* 


and  the  coldest  winds  from  the  south-east  and 
south.  Rain  storms  come  from  the  north  and 
north-west. 

When  the  western  part  of  the  horizon  is  red, 
at  the  getting  of  the  sun,  it  forbodes  foul  wea- 
ther for  the  m%t  day.  In  the  upper  part  of 
this  province,  in  the  summer  time,  there  is  a 
continual  thpu^  moderiite  gale  of  wind,  simi> 
lar  to  th^  in  the  State  of  Georgia;  occasioneJ, 
perhaps,  by  the  many  lakes  of  water.  This  be- 
ing the  case,  the  hottest  days  are  rendered 
pleasant.  Hurricanes  or  tornadoes  have  not 
been  seen  in  Canada  since  it  has  been  settled 
by  \vhite  people.  Yet  there  is  every  appear- 
ance of  them  on  all  the  north  shore  of  Lake 
Ontario;  having  once  raged  with  great  fury 
as  all  the  timber  has  been  torn  up  by  the  roots, 
from  supposition  about  600  years  ago. 

Commerce.* — The  commerce  of  the  upper 
province  has  of  late  years  been  considerable, 
and  of  great  benefit  to  the  inhabitants,  as  well 
as  to  Great  Britain.  Within  8  years,  the  ex- 
ports of  both  provinces  have  amounted  to 
about  2  millions  and  a  half  of  dollars,  thougli 
the  greatest  part  of  these  exports  belong  to  the 
upper  province. 

It  appears  that  there  were  exported  from  both 
provinces,  in  the  years  1802-3-4-5,  1,012,000 
bushels  of  wheat  each  year,  on  an  average, 

C 


>■>>' 


>*' 


'fa: 


it.      V.  t :  ■--.  i 


.-1,.-K 


.S 


■^■.;  • 


*'■• 


■z'  ■  ^- 


m 


26    *•*- 


!.^ 


40,000  barrels  of  flour,  and  34,000  weight  of 
biscuit,  besides  much  potash,  timber,  fur,  &c. 

In  the  years  1809—10 — 11,  there  has  been 
timber  for  vessels  and  casks  taken  to  England, 
to  the  amount  of  200,000  pounds  sterling. 

In  these  years,  there  were  320  vessels  em- 
ployed in  taking  away  this  produce,  amount- 
ing to  4500  tons.  The  common  price  of 
wheat  is  I  dollar  per  bushel,  and  sometimes  I 
dollar  and  25  cents — corn  50  cents,and  rye,  75 
cents — pork  6  dollars  per  cwt. — These  prices 
are  common  in  every  part  of  the  province. 

Dry  goods  and  groceries  are  brought  to  Can- 
ada, in  great  quantities,  from  England  and 
the  United  States,  which,  considering  the 
great  distance  they  come,  are  sold  very  cheap. 
At  Niagara  and  other  places,  green  tea  is 
sold  for  1  dollar  per  pound,  molasses  10  shil. 
lings  per  gallon,  and  brown  sugar  1  shilling  per 
pound  or  8  pounds  for  a  dollar,  but  since  the 
war  it  can  be  had  for  8  cents  per  pound.     - 

Tolerably  fine  calicoes  are  often  bought  for 
25  cents  per  yard,  and  salt  has  been  generally 
sold  at  1  dollar  per  bushel,  but  since  the  war 
it  has  sold  at  4  * 

Animals,— I  believe  that  all  the  variety  of 
animals  common  to  most  places  in  the  Uiiited 

^  Gold  is  the  current  coin  of  Canada^  and  is  quite  plen- 
ty of  late  years,  since  there  has  been  so  good  a  market 
for  timber. 


S]$'- 


i* 


27 


ghtof 

been 

land, 

• 

em- 
aunt- 
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nes  1 
e,  75 
trices 
te.  , 
Can- 
and 

the 

neap. 

a   is 

shiL 

J  per 

the 

for 
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war 

of 

ited 

)Ien- 
rket 


States  are  found  here,  except  rats,  which  are 
not  to  be  found  in  the  province  of  Upper  Cana- 
da.     ^ 

A  few  years  ago,  there  was  a  she  bear 
caught  iiear  Yprk,  and  dissected  by  a  surgeon 
of  the  pl*ce,  which  was  found  to  be  with 
young;  and  which  is  the  only  instance,  I  be 
lieve,  that  has  occurred  of  the  like  in  North 
.,  America*  Bears  are  plenty  in  all  parts  of  the 
province,  but  more  abundant  in  the  south- 
west part.  It  is  very  remarkable,  that  bears 
do  not  often  destroy  hogs,  in  Canada ;  how- 
ever, they  are  troublesome  to  the  inhabitants 
\n  the  fall)  by  infesting  their  corn  fields,  yet 
the  people  loose  but  little  by  them,  as  they  kill 
many  for  food. 

There  are  also  an  abundance  of  hedge  hogs 
in  the  province,  and  which  the  Indians  eat 
counting  them  good.  In  the  south-west  parts 
there  are  plenty  of  deer,  an  abundance  of 
which  are  taken  every  winter  by  the  Indians. 

There  are  also  a  plenty  of  all  kinds  of  birds 
which,  $kre  found  in  the  United  States,  except 
turkey-buzzards,  which  are  very  scarce.  There 
is  also  a  kind  of  bird  found  here  about  the  size, 
and  has  the  same  motion  and  voice  as  the  par- 
ikite,  so  plenty  in  the  state  of  Kentucky,  yet 
not  of  the  same  colour,  but  is  grey  ;  it  is  called 
by  some  the  frolic.  Wild  ducks  are  found  in 
great  plenty  in  and  around  the  shores  of  all  the 


*>. 


28 


fr 
It' 


Lakes.  Geese  are  not  plenty  in  the  \vaters  of 
Lakes  Ontario  and  Erie  at  present,  but  used 
to  be  before  the  country  was  settled  by 
white  people,  yet  they  are  plenty  enough  in  all 
the  lakes  north  of  the  settlements. 

In  the  north  end  of  the  province  there  ar6 
no  snakes  of  any  kind  to  be  found,  but  difFer- 
ont  sorts  are  found  plenty  enough  in  the 
south-west  end.  A  number  of  years  ago  there 
were  several  people  of  respectability,  who  re- 
ported  that  they  saw  in  Lake  Ontario  several 
large  snakes,  about  20  yards  in  length.  In 
June,  1811,  a  snake  was  seen  in  this  lake  near 
the  month  of  the  river  Credit,  1 6  miles  above 
York.  I  was  acquainted  with  some  vvho  saw 
it,  and  believe  them  to  be  people  of  truth.  It 
come  within  7  yards  of.  the  bo^^t  that  they 
were  in,  and  played  about  it,  and  wa$  judg- 
ed to  be  30  feet  in  length  and  S  in  cifcumfer- 
ence*  There  are  seals  i^  this  lake,  some 
of  which  have  been  caught 

Fish. — Lake  Ontario  abounds  with  fish  of 
almost  every  kind,  but  the  salmon  and  Salmon- 
trout  are  the  most  and  far  the  best.    The  sal- 


in 


*  From  the  head  of  the  Bay  Quantie  to  a  little  lake 
that  empties  iiUo  Lake  Ontario,  it  is  not  more  than  a  mile 
and  three  quarters.  It  is  very  smooth ;  at  different  times 
the  inhabitants  have  in  the  morning  seen  tracks,  as  if  a 
large  log  had  been  drawn  along  from  \he  bay  to  the  lake ; 
this  has  been  done  by  snakes. 


TV-  ^.- 


s 


5rsof 
used 
I  by 
hall 


■'■^ 


29 


mon  appear  io  very  large  quantities  in  the  fall 
of  the  year  and  penetrate  up  all  the  \vaters 
that  run  into  the  lake,  so  high  that  they  are 
often  thrown  out  with  the  hand,  but  they  are 
commonly  taken  near  the  mouth  of  the  rivers 
by  the  Indians  in  the  night,  by  means  of  spears. 
They  commonly  weigh  from  10  to  20  pounds, 
and  may  be  purchased  of  the  Indians  at  1  shil- 
ling each,  or  for  a  gill  of  whisky,  a  cake  of 
bread,  or  the  like  trifle.  They  are  of  great 
benefit  to  the  inhabitants,  especially  the  pooter 
class. 

The  salmon  trout  appear  in  the  spring,  though 
not  in  so  great  plenty,  but  are  larger,  weigh- 
ing from  16  to  30  pounds,  and  are  much  fatter 
than  salmon. 

There  are  several  other  fish  of  an  excellent 
quaUty,  and  plenty,  particularly  bass  and  her- 
ring :  the  latter  very  much  resemble  the  sea 
herring,  though  they  are  not  so  full  of  small 
.  bones.  In  the  month  of  November  they  are 
taken  in  great  abundance  from  the  water  com- 
munication between  the  main  Lake  and  the  lit- 
tle Lake,  otherwise  called  Burlington  Bay,  at 
the  head  of  Lake  Ontario.  They  are  taken 
.with  the  net,  the  channel  of  water  between  the 
two  lakes  being  not  more  than  8  feet  deep 
and  about  60  wide  and  300  yards  long. 

Very  good  and  large  eels  are  also  taken  our 
of  the  lake,  yet  they  are  but  Utile  valued,  ex- 
cept by  the  Indians.  C  2 


* 


-'^.. 


30 


There  are  a  great  number  of  fish  in  Lake 
File  some  of  which  are  very  valuable,  particu- 
larly what  is  called  the  white  iish. 

There  are  not  many  eels  in  this  lake ;  what 
few  there  are  have  multiplied  from  20  which 
a  British  oflicer  put  into  it  from  Lake  Ontario 
37  years  ago.  ^^ 

Mine  and  Minerals. — In  the  Johnstown  dis- 
trict there  is  an  iron  mine  of  considerable  val- 
ue, from  which  iron  has  been  made  for  many 
years. 

In  the  district  of  London,  Charlotteville  town*- 
ship*  there  was  a  large  and  rich  body  of  iron 
oar  discovered  in  the  year  1810,  and  from 
which  there  has  been  a  little  iron  made  of  an 
excellent  quality.  There  are  several  more 
mines  or  bodies  of  iron  ore  found  in  different 
parts  of  the  province,  yet  there  is  but  little  at- 
tention paid  to  them,though  they  might  be  val- 
uable, should  they  fall  into  the  possesion  of 
men  of  an  enterprising  spirit.  There  are  also, 
some  lead  mines  that  are  said  to  be  very  rich 
and  good. 

In  the  forks  of  Grand  River  which  empties 
into  Lake  Erie,  and  about  50  miles  from  the 
same,  on  the  land  owned  byth^  Six  Nations 
of  Indians,  there  has  lately  been  discovered  a 
body  of  plaister,  or  what  is  called  plaistepf  of 
Paris.  It  lays  in  the  bowels  of  a  large  hill,  but 
how  much  it  contains  is  not  known.    This 


*#- 


31 


piaister  has  been  used  in  different  parts  of  the 
country  adjacent,  and  answers  every  valuable 
purpose,  as  well  as  that  which  is  brought  from 
France  or  Nova-Scotia  does  in  the  United 
States.  No  soil  can  be  better  adapted  to  the 
use  of  piaister,  than  that  of  the  district  of  Lon- 
don, which  joins  on  the  Grand  River. 

In  the  Township  of  Townsend,  there  is  a 
clay  that  paints  nearly  as  well  as  Spanish 
brown,  and  many  people  use  it  instead  thereof. 
Also  in  some  other  parts  there  are  clays  that 
paint  very  well. 

There  is  a  number  of  salt  springs  in  almost 
every  part  of  Canada,  although  there  has  not 
been  much  salt  made  in  the  province  hitherto, 
it  having  been  brought  from  the  different  salt- 
works in  the  State  of  New- York,  in  great  abun- 
dance. However  there  has  been  salt  made 
from  some,  of  an  excellent  quality,  particularly 
in  Lincoln  county,  n^ar  Niagara,  in  the  town- 
ship of  Percy,  Newcastle  district. 

There  is  a  number  of  medical  springs  in  the 
province  of  an  eiccellent  quality  One  in  the 
township  of  Woodhouse,  is  of  a  sulphurous 
nature :  a  quart  will  purge  well,  and  of  the 
same  sort  is  the  one  in  Middleton  on  Big  Creek. 
12  miles  east  of  York  there  is  a  spring  of  great 
medical  virtue. 

Lakes. — There  are  7  lakes  of  considerable 
size  inr  the  inhabited  part  of  the  province^  and 


/  ;.!-^-. 


•8        T^ 


Ifi 

I* 


32 


many  more  in  the  wilderness.  Lake  Ontario  is 
about  230  miles  long,  from  north  east  to  south- 
west, and  80  wide :  about  the  middle,  being  of 
an  oval  form,  it  is  exceeding  deep,  and  in  most 
places  it  appears  to  be  without  bottom,  as  there 
has  been  great  length  of  cord  let  down  without 
finding  any.  The  water  is  very  clear  and  cool 
at  all  times  of  the  year,  having  the  appearance 
of  a  large  spring.  This  lake  never  freezes  ex- 
cept near  the  shore  where  it  is  shallow :  nor 
does  it  freeze  there  only  a  few  weeks  in  the 
most  severe  weather.  It  is  pretty  certain  that 
there  is  more  water  runs  out  of  this  lake  than 
runs  in,  and  when  we  consider  its  veiy  exten- 
sive surface,  it  is  also  certain  that  there  is  much 
of  its^ater  evaporated  by  the  sun :  of  course 
i(  must  hide  many  exceeding  large  springs. 

Lake  Ontario  has  sunk  within  its  banks  since 
the  notice  of  its  present  inhabitants,  say  37 
years,  and  some  Indians  inform  that  their  fore- 
fathers say  that  it  was  once  as  high  as  the 
heighth  of  the  Niagara  Fall,  and  that  the  wa- 
ters of  lakes  Ontario  and  Erie  joined  in  most 
places,  but  as  to  the  truth  of  this  assertion  I  will 
not  pretend  to  say ;  yet  I  am  of  the  opinion 
that  the  water  of  Lake  Ontario  once  reached  to 
the  foot  of  the  mountain  or  slope  of  ground  aL 
ready  named,  and  I  am  led  to  this  belief  from 
the  circumstance  of  pebble  stones  being  dug  up 
from  every  part  of  the  surface^  and  undlrneath 


e 
i 


% 
'% 


33 


the  same,  between  it  and  the  shore.    The  foot 
of  the  mountain  is  20  feet  higher  than  the  lake. 

There  are  not  many  islands  in  this  lake,  e^ 
cept  near  the  lower  end,  where  they  are  plenty. 

In  many  places  the  ground  descends  to  the 
water  very  gradually,  and  there  is  no  bank  at 
all,  except  a  sandy  or  gravelly  beach ;  but  in 
other  places  the  banks  are  1 5  feet  high.* 
<  The  wind  has  a  great  effect  upon  this  lake, 
and  the  waves  sometimes  run  high ;  yet  it  is 
tolerably  safe  for  navigation,  there  being  but 
few  shoals  or  rocks  at  any  distance  from  the 
shore.  ♦ 

There  are  a  number  of  vessels  on  this  lake, 
and  some  of  considerable  size.  The  sight  of  so 
great  a  body  of  water  in  the  midst  of  the  wild- 
erness, enriched  with  ships  sailing  and  colors 
flyiiigj  is  truly  pleasing  and  romantic  t 
^^  The  Little  Lak«,  or  Burlington  Bay,  lies  at  the 
south  west  end  of  this  lake,  and  is  divided  from 
it  by  a  causeway,  5  miles  long,  and  inmost  places 
300  yards  wide,  the  surface  of  this  causeway  is 
completely  level,  of  a  light  sa  nd,  matted  over  with 
grass,  and  beautifully  decorated  with  groves  of 
timber,  chiefly  oak  of  a  middle  size,  but  of  an  end- 
less variety  of  curious  forms— some  6  feet  in  cir- 


» 


*  Almost  all  the  north  shore  has  high  banks.    •  * 
^   f  There  are  many  prospective  situations  on  the  banks 
of  this  lake.  ^'   f^^ 


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34 

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.    U^     .       ,       ■  ,  ,   ,  - 

cumference  at  the  butt,  yet  not  more  than  12 
feet  high,  with  extensive  limbs,  crooking  and 
turning  in  all  directions.  A  great  number  of 
these  trees  are  entirely  encircled  with  grape 
vines,  and  prdduce  great  quantities  of  grapes  of 
an  excellent  quantity.  The  former  residence 
of  the  noted  Col.  Brandt  is  near  this  place.  This 
causeway  is  broken  off  in  one  place^  as  already 
noted,  about  a  mile  from  the  northwest  shore, 
and  is  about  5  feet  higher  than  the  water.  It 
is  a  beautiful  place  for  a  summer  seat.^  The 
Little  Lake  to  the  west  of  this  causeway  is  about 
20  miles  in  circumference,  and  is  generally 
shallow,  although  deep  in  some  places. 

It  is  thought  that  there  are  salt  springs  in  the 
bottom  of  this  lake,  because  the  herring  chiefly 
reside  in  it.    It  is  famous  for  ducks  and  eels.f 

There  are  a  considerable  number  of  harbors 
in  Lake  Ontario,  but  the  loost  noted  and  Quri- 
ous  is  that  of  Pres  qu'isle,  \n  the  district  of  New- 
castle, Cramaghe  township,  on  the  lake  shore, 
about  76  miles  south  west  of  Kingston.  There 
are  two  points  of  land,  about  4  miles  apart, 
which  extend  out  from  the  main  shore,  but 
draw  nearer  each  other  as  they  extend  into 
the  lake,  and  finally  meet  in  a  rounding  form, 

*  Not  far  from  the  middle  there  are  a  number  of  In- 
dians buried.  In  the  winter  of  1810,  this  causeway  was 
shook  in  a  violent  manner  by  an  earthquake. 

t  Not  fat  from  this  bay  there  is  a  volcano  of  some  not^. 


tl 


55 


about  5  miles  from  the  shore.  These  arms  of 
land  are  level  on  the  top,  and  are  about  5  or  8 
feet  above  the  water.  About  3  miles  from  the 
shore,  there  is  a  channel  of  water  which  runs 
through  the  east  point'of  land,  about  150  yards 
wide,  and  30  feet  deep.  This  channel  lets  in 
the  vessels,  which  can  sail  ail  over  the  harbor 
with  safety,  and  in  going  up  to  the  top,  or 
where  the  two  arms  meet,  which  is  in  form  like 
a  horse-shoe^  the  largest  ships  may  come  close 
up  to  the  banks,  which  are  perpendicular  of  so- 
lid rock.  A  plank  is  put  from  the  shore  to  the 
vessel,  when  it  is  to  be  loaded.  ^ 

The  Bay  Quantie  connects  with  Lake  Onta< 
rio,  a  small  distance  west  of  Kingston,  and  ex- 
tends 70  miles  up  towards  the  south  west,  paral- 
lel with  it.  It  is  I  mile  wide  in  some  places 
and  6  in  others.  There  are  a  considerable 
number  of  arms,  or  smaller  bays,  which  put 
out  from  it,'  some  10  miles  long.  This  bay  is 
very  safe  for  navigation,  being  very  deep,  and 
secure  from  the  effect  of  high  winds.  Most  of 
the  traders,  with  small  vessels  who  go  from 
Kingston  to  York,  Niagara,  or  Detroit,  pass  up 
this  bay  to  the  head,  which  is  only  1  mile  and 
8  quarters  from  a  small  lake  called  Willow's 
Lake  that  puts  into  lake  Ontario^  and  here  the 
vessels  are  carried  across  by  means  of  wheels 
and  oxen.  The  road  is  quite  level  and  sandy. 
Those  traders  which  come  down  Lake  Ontario 


6>. 


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generally  cross  this  carrying  place  into  the  bay ; 
although  the  Bay  Quantie,  and  the  Lake  Onta- 
rio are  so  near  here,  yet  they  are  SO  miles  apart 
in  some  places,  owing  to  an  extensive  projec- 
tion of  some  points  of  land  into  the  lake,  and 
DO  doubt  their  being  so  near  at  the  head  of  the 
bay,  is  a  divine  interposition  of  providence  for 
the  benefit  of  the  inhabitants. 

There  are  several  smaU  lakes  in  the  penin- 
sula between  the  lake  and  bay,  which  abound 
with  fish,  1  of  which  deserves  particular  notice, 
called  the  Mountain  Lake.  This  lake  is  situa- 
ted in  Hallowell  township,  Prince  Edward 
county,  Midland  district,  34  miles  from  Kings- 
ton, on  the  bay  shore.  It  lies  on  the  top  of  a 
mountain  judged  to  be  200  feet  high :  but  in  the 
month  of  December,  1812, 1  stood  on  the  ice  of 
the  Bay,  in  front  of  it,  and  after  tailing  the 
height^  found  it  to  be  only  1 00  and  60  feet, 
lliis  lake  is  about  3  miles  in  circumfei^nce, 
and  very  deep  in  most  places,  abounding  with 
fish  cf  different  sorts.  How  fish  could  get  into 
this  lake,  is  a  matter  of  deep  speculation,  as  it 
has  no  connexion  with  the  bay  or  lake,  only 
by  the  smalb  stream  that  flows  from  it  into  the 
hay  by  a  fall  of  160  feet  nearly  perpendicular. 

Under  these  falls  there  is  now  a  grist  miir, 
near  the  bay  shore,  in  the  possesion  of  M.  Van- 
alstine.  u 

Near  the  head  of  the  Bay  (iuantie,  on  the 
north  side,  there  is  a  lake  of  considerable  size 


I 


37 


\ 


called  the  Hog  Lake,  aflTso  W^fH  othera 
not  far  distant.    About  20  miles  west  of  the 
head  of  the  Bay  Quantieiind  15  i^iles  north  of' 
the  shore  of  Lake  Ontario  is  sitoated  what  is- 
called  the  Rice  Lake,  on  account  of  the  great 
quantity  of^iiice  which  grow  in  it.    This  lake  is 
from  S  to  9  Miiles  wide,  and  36  in  length,  though 
not  very  dieep.    Its  course  is  from  east  to  west, 
the  west  end  is  not  far  from  Lake  Sinicoe.    At 
the  east  end  there  is  a  fall  of  18  feet  perpendi*^ 
caliar,  in  the  form  of  a  half  moon*    Below  the 
falls,  begins  what  is   called   the  river  Trent, 
which  is  tolerable  large,  and  affords  many  falls 
fit  for  water  viiijtks :  it  empties  in  the  Bay  ftuan- 
tie  at  the  he^d.    This  lake  communicates  with 
a  chain  of  small  lakes  called  the  shallow  lakes 
which  afford  rice  also,  and  extends  near  the 
nor^  end  of  Lake  Simcoe :  Lake  Simcoe  lie* 
stHl  west  of  rice  lake,  and  is  sonie  larger.    It, 
commuhic^fces  with  Lake  Huron  to  the  south- 
west by  the iiver  Severn. 

Lake  Erie  which  lies  30  miles  from  any 
part  of  Lake  Ontarib,  on  the  south-west  is  near: 
ly  300  miles  long  from  north  east  to  south- vveit"; 

*  The  land  around  these  falls  is  very  rich,  well  water- 
ed, clear  of  stone  pQ  the  surface,  light  timbered,  lays 
handsome  and  prospective,  though  a  barren  wilderness 
now.  Should  some  enterpriiiiug  gentlemen  establish 
themselves  here  and  erect  water-works  this  would  soon 
be  a  valuable  place. 

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38 


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and  from  20  to  40  miles  wide.  This  lake  lies 
nearly  300  feet  higher  than  Lake  Ontario  which 
is  the  leasQii  |0f  the  Niagara  faHs.  It  is  also 
pure^nd  Jfcl^r  water,  though  not  so  de^p  as 
LakeOntaaiov  nor  13  it  so  safe  for  navigation,  or 
aflfbrd  so  many  Qne  harbors.  Th^  are  som^] 
Islands  neat  the  west  end  of  this  ift  that  coi% 
tain  many  bad  snakes.  The  shore  of  this  lake 
in  most  places  is  nearly  level  with  the  land,  and 
^ery  smooth  and  sandyv  Jt  is  thought  that  full 
as  much  v^aterruns  out  dif  this  Lake  as  runs 
in.*  ■■  •.  ^  y  ■  .■     ■ 

There  are  other  Lakt s  4n  <]^na4^  ^  The 
Lake  St  Clair  lies  in  a  nprth-^sterly  course^ 
from  Lake  Erie.  Still  farther  to  the  north-west 
is  Lake  Huron,  lOQ  inilet  in  circumferencei^^ 
in  latitude  #2.  From  Lake  Huron,  through 
the  straits  of  Marie*  ilkis  40  miles  to  Lake 
J^apericwf^  A#kh  lies  bfetweien  49  and  50  degrees^ 
tiortb  latitude,  and  between  84  and  90  degrees 
west  lougitiidefrom  London.  The  Me  Royal, 
which  ijs  near  the  middle  of  thi^  Lake,  is  LQO 
miles  long  and  40  wide.  Ip  the  middle  of  this 
Island  is  the  line  between  the  United  States 
and  Great-firitain. 


r'' 


^LakeJ^rie  extends  60  miles  northeast  of  the  liefidy 
or  west  eod  of  Lake  Ontario.  To  draw  a  line  due  souths 
from  the  \^est  end  of  Lake  Ontario  to  Lake  Erie,  It 
would  strike  it  60  miles  from  the  ea?t  end. 


I^'"- 


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39 


liet 


m^ 


Rivers. — Although  Canada  is  a  level  conn 
try,  yet  isr  not  so  low  and  flat  asr  not  to  afford 
any  streams  of  water,  but  on  the  j^ntrary  has 
many  which  run  clear  and  afford  exiiellent  falls 
for  water  works,  the  principal  of  which  are  the 
following  J«p  1 

?     The  Oll^way  river  is  a  large  stream  that 

irises  out  of  Lake  Tomis canting   and  runs  a 

j^outh-easV  course  through  Upper  Canada,  and 

^trosses  the  line  into  the  lowefr  province,  and 

^6lhpties  into  the  river  St.  Lawrence  above  and 

V  below  Montreal.    The  spring  floods  in  this  river 

risef  in  the  month  of  June;  it  inundates  its  banks 

-  and  often  spoils  the  farmer's  young  crop.     The 

treason  of  this  is  because  the  river  extends  so 

Igreat  a  distance  tef  the  northwest,  where  the 

t  spring  does  not  begin  until  the  last  of  May, 

^mnd^by  the  time  the  snow  is  thawed,  and  the  ice 

iii  the  lake  broken  up,  the  water  cl^scends  to 

the  settled  parts  of  the  province  ii&the  MOUtt? 

of  the  river,  it  is  the  middle  of  June.    There 

are  a  great  nunjiber  offish  of  varioussorts  in 

this  river.    There  are  considerable  falls  in  this 

river,  though  noite  of  a  perpendicular  descent. 

There  are  several  more  rivers  in  the  lower 

part  of  the  province  which  empty  into  the  rive'r 

St.  Bawrence,  and  abound  with  fish.    The  river 

Cahanocqua,  which  empties  into  the  river  M 

miles  below  Kingston,  is  of  considerable  size.^ 

What  is  called  Myres'  Creek,  which  ^ipties* 


^  V 


40 


1-4 


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h.   V 


into  the  Bay  Quantie,  from  the  north,  50  miles 
from  Kingston,  is  considerable  large,  very  clear 
and  pure,^^,and  runs  near  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  aiirords  fine  falls  for  water  works,  and 
abounds  with  fish. 

The  river  Trent,  already  named^empties  in- 
to the  head  of  the  Bay  ftuantie  firorm  the  Rice 
Lake,  is  large  and  abounds  with  fish. 
^  Many  hundred  barrels  of  excellent  salmon 
are  taken  out  of  this  river  every  fall.  .    .^ 

Fion:  ihe  head  of  the  Bay  Quaintie,  for  76 
miles  towards  the  southwest,  up  the  lake Ontario, 
there  are  no  rivers  of  a  considerable  size  that 
empty  into  the  lake  ;*yet  there  is  ari  abundance 
of  small  and  pearly  creeks  and  brooks — indeed 
it  is  the  best  watered  part  in  Canada.  Smith's 
Creek  and  Lion's  Creek,  are  streams  of  some 
note.  , 

What  is  now  called  Duffen's  Creek,  is  a  fine 
stream,  abounding  with  fish;  it  empties  into 
Lake  Ontario,  30  miles  below,  or  northeast  of 

%he  river  Rush  empties  into  the  lake  18  miles 
below  York ;  it  is  tolerably  large,  and  naviga- 
ble for  boats  20  miles  up. 
•  From  this  river  there  is  and  abundance  of 
salmon  taken  every  fall.  Still  up  towards  the 
head  of  Lake  Ontario,  there  are  a  number  more 
of  fine  streams. 

Sixteen  miles  above  York,  empties  into  the  r^ 
lake,  the  river  Credit.     This  is  one  of  the  best    ] 


% 


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livers  iri  Canada  forsalftiori;  it  is  tolerably 
large.  The  salmon  are  taken  out  of  this  and 
other  rivers  in  the  night  by  means/of  spears. 
The' fishermen  have  an  iron  frame  fixed  in  the 
fore  part  of  their  canoes,  in  which  they  place  pine 
knots  and'^l^  for  light.  They  then  paddle 
along  in  tlie  river,  and  see  the  salmon  floating 
near  the  surface  of  the  water,  where  they  come 
by  the  influence  of  the  light.  They  are  quite 
tame  and  are  struck  with  eas&.  The  salmon 
come  up  the  rivers  in  large  quantities  together 
on  purpose  to  spawn. 

Ten  miles  still  farther  up  the  lake,  empties  in 
what  is  called  the  16  mile  Creek,  which  is  tole- 
rably ^arge  and  famous  for  fish.  Five  miles 
farther  is  what  is  called  the  12  mile  Creek,  a 
beautiful  stream,  abounding  wfth  fish  and  many 
fine  falls  for  water  works. 

There  are  several  fine  streams  that  r^amtp 
the  head  of  Lake  Ontario  and  BurlingtOiii  Bay. 

The  Ciiippeway  river  runs  into  the  Niagtfr^. 
river  3  miles  above  the  falls,  and  is  tolerably 
large  and  long.  What  is  callM"  th^  20  mile 
Creek,  rises  iiear^e  head  of  the  Chippeway, 
from  a  large  pond,  flows  a  northeast  course  and 
plunges  down  the  slope  of  ground  already  de-* 
scribed  by  several  perpendicular  pitches  in  dif- 
ferent places,  affording  excellent  seats  for  water 
works.  It  empties  into  Lake  Ontario  16  mile^t 
•,ye^t  of  Niagara. 

D2 


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/-The  15,  16,  17,  30  and  40  mHe  Creeks  all 

4ruri  into  Lake  Ontario  and  plunge  over  the  slope 
and  afford  fine  fallsi. 

The  riv^r  Niagara,  or  outlet  of  Lake  Erie,  is 
very  large  before  it  empties  into  Lake  Ontario, 
but  is  still  larger  after  it  leaves  the  ^Jte,  or  river 
St.  Lawrence.  This  river  will  be  fdily  describ- 
ed in  the  Appendix. 

There  are  several  considerable  streams  that 
run  into  Lake  Erie. 

The  Grand  river  is  a  considerable  large 
stream  of  exceeding  clear  water  rising  from  the 
small  Lake  St.  Clie.  It  is  navigable  for  vessels 
of  considerable  si^e  for  50  miles  from  its  mouth. 
It  empties  into  Lake  Erie  60  miles  from  the 
east  end,  and  contains  many  fine  fish.^    This 

'  river  is  fn  the  possession  of  the  Six  Nations  of 
Indians;  they  own  6  miles  of  land  each  side  of 

I  it  from  the  mouth  to  the  head. 

I     The  Thames  is  large  and  beautiful,  rising 

f  ni^r  the  head  of  the  Grand  river,  and  runs 
nearly  a  south  course  into  the%liters  that  come 

^  from  Lake  Superior  into  the  h^ad  of  Lake  Erie. 
It  empties  30  miles  above  Ss^ndwich.  There 
are  a  number  more  fine  streams  that  run  into 

^^ake  Erie  ;*such  as  Big  Creek  passing  through 

•*  I  think  it  proper  to  rectify  a  mistake  which'  some- 

-how  got  into  Morse's  Geography,   printed  in  Boston, 

,  1811,  where  this  grand  river  is  represented  as  "passing 

through  Rice  Lake,  arid  mingling  with  the  wafers  of  On- 


'%*■ 


rario.  ■' 

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Mlddleton  and  Houghton  townships,  as  also 
Kettle  and  Outer  Creeks  in  Middlesex  county. 
Indians, — ^I'here  are  seven  distinct  nations  of 
Indians  in  the  inhal)ited  part  of  Canada;  six  of 
these  nations  live  on  th^  Grand  river  already 
noted,  viz. ,  the  Mohawks,  th6  Chippeways,  the 
Delaware^  the  Massasaugas,   the  Tuscaroras, 
and  Senacas.    Each  of  these  nations  have  their 
king  oi;  chief,  and  their  village  and  council 
house. "They  also  speak  a  different  language, 
yet  unSers|;and  each  other  very  yvell.    These 
six  natidlii  of  Indians  on  the  Grand  river,  in 
number  1976,  have  attained  to  a  tolerable  de- 
gree of  fiivilization.    They  speak  the  English 
language  with  some  propriety,  and  have  schools 
and  the  gospel  continually  among  them.     The 
school  teachers  are  paid  by^^e  king,  and  also 
their  Preacher.    A  nuniber  of  these  Indians 
have  very  good  English  learning,  and  are  very 
industrious :  some  of  the  families  have  raised  in 
one  year  300  bushels  of  wheat.    They  a^je. 
ry  kind  to  strangers,  and  will  giyei  the  Ifff  of 
their  food  or  drink  to  them.    They  are  all  firm- 
ly attached  to  the  interest  of  the  British  govern- 
ment, and  are  exercised  in  the  military  use  of 
arms,  several  times  in  the  year.     They  can 
muster  600  warriors ;  though  the  Massasaugas 
are  not  good  to  fight,  nor  for  any  thing  else. 
There  are  a  considerable  number  of  this  tribe  re- 
siding in  other  parts  of  the  province,  some  on 


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44 


the  16  iniie  Creek  above  York,  already  named, 
others  on  the  bank  of  the  Lake  Simcoe,  and 
others  on  the  Rice  Lake.  " 

-Besides  those  of  the  Mohawks  on  the  Grand 
river,  there  are  a  considerable  number  living 
near  the  Bay  Gluantie,  on  the  north  ;^e,  about 
the  middle.  They  own  a  tract  of  land  12  miles 
square,  and  have  schools  and  the  gospel  atnong 
therrt  also.  ^^, 

There  are  a  small  tribe  of  Indians  palBd  the 
St.  Regis  Indians,  living  on  the  river^^^^Kegis,  ^ 
near  the  lower  part  of  the  provincJd.    ^Kere  is 
also  a  small  tribe  called  the  Moravianti^Ifidians^  ^ 
living  in  the  western  district ;  they  ha^the  gos- 
pel preached  to  them  by  the  Dutqh  liloravians 
among  whom  they  live :  they  are  of  the  Dela^  i 
ware  tribes'    On  s0^  islands  near  and  in  Lake^^ 
Huron,  there  are  a  considerable  number  of  In-  ^ 
dians  called  the  Huron  Indians,  and  are  great 
warriors*  .•^>...^„^-     .  ^  i 

Mte  thie  head  of  the  Ottaway  river,  there  is  i 
a  s^ll  tribe  of  Indians,  called  t|i|  Nepisingul  ^ 
Indians :  they  live  on  a  Is^e  of  th^  saine  name, 
and  were  once  converted  to  the  Romap  Catho- 
lic religion,  at  which  time  they  were  a  numer^ 
oil^  tribe.  They  are  of  the  Algonquin  nation^ 
some  of  which  now  reside  about  Lake  Superior. 

There  are  a  number  of  Indians  of  different 
nations  besides  those  that  I  have  named,  though 
they  have  but  little  intercourse  with  the  British, 


si' 


» 


5t: 


46 


nd 


m 


except  that  they  trade  with  them  by  the  agents, 
and  make  them  yearly  presents  of  a  great  a- 
mount.  t'^  ,4  5^' 

There  are  various  accounts  respecting  the 
number  of  Indians  inCanada,  some  suppose  that 
there  is  lpCj!,000,  and  out  of  these  there  may  be 
raised  80,000  warriors,  yet  I  think  this  is  not 
correct ;  i|idef||  I  believe  that  the  British  gov- 
jio  not  know  the  number  of  all  that 

mselves  connected  with  it,  as  all  the 

|ons  never  meet  together  at  once.^ 
ian  Indians  cost  the  British  Crown 

/.  sterling  each  year.    This  sum  is 
furnishing  them  with  firearms  and 

,  by  means  of  which  they  kill  their 
game,  also  in  blankets  and  clothes  to  cover 
their  nakedness,  as  also  lilnd,  meat,  and 
tobacco.  These  things  are  called  gifts,  from 
the  King,  but  are  chiefly  the  interest  of  money 
in  England  belonging  to  the  six  nations,  for 
land  sold  to  the  King.  However,  I  iMV 
opinion  that  tj|iojfe  things  which  they  get|^rai 
the  king's  stores  do  them  more  harm  than  good, 
as  thereby ,  they  are  encouraged  to  live  in  idle- 

*  I  am  of  opinion  that  at  present,  Sept.  1 812,  which^p 
since  the  invasion  of  Canada,  that  the  British  have  now 
in  their  intereit,  including  the  prophet  Tecumseh,  Split- 
log,  and  Walk-in-the-water^  with  their  people,  nearly 
?0,Q00  warriors. 


ernme 
consi 
difife 
T 
about  3.^ 
expendc 
ammunit 


iu 


-4 


^  >  m 


;? 


'^i^ 


J 


^  W^ 


':^''-^,>i':-i,;^':^??;rv/^:4t~" 


* 


•T 


W' 


t-.i 


46 


ness,  depending  on  those  gifts  which  they  re- 
ceive twice  a  year.  ^  ->  - 
Should  part  of  this  amount  be  given  to  them 
in  horses,  cows,  sheep  and  hogs,  as  also  farming 
utensils,  and  the  rest  td  all  such  that  at  the  end 
of  each  year  had  raised  more  produce  than 
they  needed ;  this  would  be  a  discouragement 
to  idleness,  and  a  stimulus  to  |niustry._ 

nee  of 
Idol- 

J  by 

hen 

ever 

ds  of  the 

attention 


The  most  of  the  Indians  in  the 
Upper|Canada  have  been  coiiverte 
atry,  to  the  belief  6f  the  Christia 
the  labor  of  the  Roman  Catholic  p 
the  province  belonged  to  the  Freno 
since  the  province  has  fell  into  the 
British,  there  has  not  been  so  muc 
to  the  religious  instruction  of  the  Indians  as  for- 
merly. What  aris^taught  in  the  Christian  faith 
are  of  the  Protestant  cast,  yet  the  young  Indians 
do  not  know  or  care  any  thing  about  any  kind 

Tejigion. 

^withstanding  the  Indian^  ha,ye  fol^erly 
beeH  taught  by  the  cat^iolics^t^he  principles 
of  the  Christian  faith,  and  at  present  the  pro- 
testants  preach  among  them,  ai  do  some  other 

fits,  they  still  hold  some  of  those  j  traditional 
tions  relative  to  God  and  the  soul,  which  are 
very  curious. 

In  the  summer  they  lay  about  the  lakes,  and 
now  and  then  catch  sturgeon  and  eels. 

These  Indians  are  considerably  troublesome 
to  the  white  people,  especially  the  tribe  of  Mas- 


■   .  ■  _y^     ■■  ,  w 


M 


47 


sasaugas,  as  they  are  wandering  through  the 
country  almost  continually,  and  begging  some- 
thing  to  eat,  when  they  get  drunk,  which  is  as 
often  as  they  can  get  a  chance,  they  are  quar- 
relsome and  many  times  dangerous. 

The  armor  of  the  In^ans  in  time  of  war,  are 
a  rifle,  a  spear  about  18  inches  long  with  a  han- 
dle 8  feet,  a  tomahawk,  and  scalping  knife,  all 
of  which  they  use  as  instruments  of  death. 

The  Indians  in  Canada,  like  all  otlfMlIn* 
diansj  dress  very  indifferently,  though  they  get 
much  fine  cloth  from  the  king's  store,  which 
they  onkjkthrow  over  their  dirty  bodies,  and  in 
a  little  m&e  all  is  filthy  together.  In  the  sum- 
mer, they  are  chiefly  naked,  except  a  little  co- 
vering atound  the  waist.  The  woqien  are  par- 
ticularly careful  of  their  legllirlow  ^heir  knees, 
if  all  other  parts  are  naked. 

Fillages.'^There  a|§  not  many  villages,  in 


Canadaof  much  note, 
leir  greatest  advan^i^  * 
(itid  is  very  cjieap  and  - 

XL,  . 


the  province  of  Upp< 
the  inhabitants  finjdin^ 

in  agriculture,*^^  thej 
fertile. 

CORN^ 
Is  situated  about  I00l|iles  down  the  river 
St.^  Lawrence,  is  handsome  iutJaot  large. 

PRESCOTT,^ 
Is  70  miles  dp wn  the  same  rRrer,  and  stands 
opposite  to  C%densburgh  on  the  United  Spites 
side,  it  is  small.    There  is  a  fort  and  garrison 


kept  here,     v^,  , 


•.  -*■•■ 


^-^ 


'"^ 


■*  J* 


'%^^ 


!►-' 


*.• 


I 

I 


11 


'  BROCKVILLE, 

Lies  12  miles  higher  up  the  river,  and  is  hand- 
somely situated,  containing  about  60  houses. 

KINGSTON,  ! 

Stands  a  few  miles  l^elow  the  head  of  the  St 
Lawrence,  oppesite  to  an  island  which  is  the 
means  of  forming  a  safe  and  commodious  har* 
bor.  It  contains  about  150  houses,  a  court- 
house,  jail,  and  2  houses  for  public  worship. 
TliPfbrt  in  this  place  is  strong,  though  most  of 
the  cannon  are  small.  It  is  a  place  of  much  tri^df . 
There  are  several  more  small  villages  on  the 
banks  of  the  bay  of  Quantie,  ftnd  arM^aces  of 
some  trade,  all  of  which  increase  andilourish 
rapidly. 
-^  .  YORK, 

Is  situated  170i|Ales  south  west  of  Kingston, 
on  the  north  shore  of  Lake  Ontario,  and  is 
something  larger  than  tl^  former.  %tns  village 
is  laid  Out  after  the  fo 
streets  crossing  each 
though  the  ground  o 
suitable  for  building, 
seat  of  goverment^  uxi 
ber  of  English  .gentlemen.  It  contains  some 
fine  buildings,  though  they  stand  scattering, 
among  which  are  a  (Courthouse,  council  house, 
a  large  brick  building  in  which  the  King's 
storJ^or  the  place  is  kept,  and  a  meeting  house 
for  Episcopalians.    This  city  lies  in  north  lati- 


of  Philadelphia,  the 
her  |t>|ght  angles; 
which  it  stands  is  not 
bis  at  present  is  the 
i  residence  of  a  num- 


w  '■ 


.# 


'19 


hand- 

ises. 

the  St. 
is  the 
s  har- 
court- 
)rship. 
lost  of 
tradf. 
>n  the 
cesof 
urish 


gston, 
md  is 
illage 
ay  the 
igles  ; 
is  not 
$  the 
num- 
some, 

>ring»Z 
ouse,: 

mg's 

louse' 

iati- 


■* 


tude  43  degrees  and  some  minutes.  The  har- 
bor in  front  of  the  city  is  commodious,  safe 
and  beautiful,  and  is  formed  after  a  curious 
manner.  Abotit  3  miles  below,  or  east  of  the 
city,  there  extends  out  from  the  main  shore 
an  arm  or  neck  of  land  about  100  yards  wide, 
nearly  in  the  form  of  a  rainbow,  until  it  con- 
n<ects  with  the  main  shore  again,  about  a  mile 
above,  or  west  of  the  city,  between  it  and 
where  the  fort  stands.  About  300  yards  f^gm  * 
the  shore,  and  as  many  from  the  fort,  there  is 
a  channel  through  this  circular  island  merely 
sufficient  for  the  passage  of  large  vessels.  This 
bason,  which^  in  the  middle  is  2  miles  wide,  is 
very  deep  and  without  rocks,  or  any  thing  of 
the  kind.  While  the  water  of  the  main  lake 
which  is  3Q  miles  wide  in  this  place  is  tost 
as  the  waves  of  the  sea,  this  bason  remains 
smooth.  The  fort  in  tlus  place  is  not  strong, 
but  the  British  began  to  build  a  very  strong  one  . 
in  the  year  1811.  ' 

Is  situated  nearly  (ftposite  York,  on  the 
sourh  side  of  the  lake,  at  the  point  of  land  for- 
med by  the  conjunction  of  the  outlet  of  Lake 
Erie  and  Ontario.  It  is  a  beautiful,  and  pros- 
pective place,  being  surrounded  on  two  sides 
by  water,  the  lake  on  the  north,  and  the  Nia- 
gara river  on  the  east,  and  which  affords  a^^ne 
harbour  for  ^hipping. 


■J^rU 


■^* 


1? 


H^ 


^   n 


r 


ml 


!■: 


t 


'>  50 

* 

Fort  George  of  this  place  stands  about  a  half 
a  mile  from  the  mouth  of  this  river*  near  the 
bank  where  it  is  34  feet  above  the  surface  of 
the  water;  it  is  nearly  square,  enclosing  a 
space  of  about  150  yards  long  and  100  broad. 
The  pickets  are  high  and  strong,  defended  by 
a  ditch  on  the  out  side,  and  breast.works  on 
the  inside.  It  is  well  provided  with  cannon, 
ammunition,  water,  provision  and  the  like. 
T)|»8  village  is  a  place  of  much  trade,  and  is 
inhabited  by  a  ctvil  and  industrious  people. 
Tt  contains  a  council-house,  court-house,  and 
jail,^  and  2  houses  for  public  worship.  There 
are  several  squares  of  ground  in  this  village 
adorned  with  almost  every  kind  of  precious 
fruit.  The  front  part  of  the  village,  on  the 
east,  looks  towards  the  fort  over  a  beautiful 
plain  of  nearly  1  mile  wide. 

ftUEE»[STON,t 

Is  situated  7  miles  further  up  the  Niagara 
Tiver,  close  by  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  or 
slope  of  ground  alread^^noted  al  what  is  called 
the  landing.  It  is  a  spall,  but  handsome  vil- 
lage: the  most  of  the  houses  are  built  with 
stone  or  brick,  large,  and  well  finished.    It  is 

♦  On  the  13lh  of  October,  1812,  these  were  burnt  by 
the  Aniericat:s  with  hot  balls  from  the  east  side  as  also 
£ome  other  buildings. 

t  h  was  at  this  place  the  Americans  crossed  on  the 
13th  of  October. 


5&' 


-^.* 


L^'. 


51 


■>v: 


also  a  place  of  considerable  trade,  and  inhabit- 
ed by  a  civil  and  rich  people. 

chippeway, 

Lies  10  miles  above  Queenston  and  3  above 
the  Niagara  falls :  is  a  ^mall  village  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Chippeway  creek.  It  has  some  handsome 
buildings,  and  is  a  place  of  considerable  trade. 

FORT  ERIE. 

There  is  a  small  village  at  this  place  of  some 
beauty,  the  inhabitants  of  which  carry  on  a 
considerable  trade  from  the  L^ke. 
TURKEYPOINT, 

Is  situated  abou|  60  miles  soath-wesC  of  Fort- 
Erie,  on  the  lake  shore  in  the  district  of  Lon- 
don, a  little  east  of  Long  Point.  It  stands  in 
a  beautiful  place  adjoining  an  excellent  country 
of  land,  and  has  a  handsome  court  house  and 
jail. 

PORTTALBERT, 

Lies  64  miles  farther  to  the  south- west  en 
the  lake  shore.  It  has  been  laid  out  about  % 
years,  and  bids  fair  fo^  a  considerable  village. 
It  has  a  4ne  harbor  for  shipping. 

MALDEN. 

This  fort  and  Village  is  situate  at  the  south- 
west end  or  head  of  Lake  Erie,  14  miles  south 
of  Detroit.  It  is  a  pleasant  place  though  not 
large.    The  fort  here  is  strong. 

SANDWICH, 

Is  situated  still  up  the  river,  opposite  Detroit, 
and  is  a  handsome  village  of  considerable  age, 


*SS 


U    ,4   '• 

%  - 


I  ' 


*  13 

.  '  la 


'"i 


■fw  ■ 


•'•sT<- 


k  ^ 


'k 


^, 


t<- 


h 


■  2 

i' 


1 

It 


inhabited  principally  by  French,  who  settled 
this  country  103  years  ago.  .v.    -^a--. 

There  are  several  other  villages  in  the  prov- 
ince not  imtnediately  on  the  water,  v^hich  are 
of  considerable  size  and  beauty;  but  those 
already  named  are  the  principal. 
'  Settlements, — In  the  lower  part  of  this  jwrov- 
ince,  the  settlements  do  not  extend  back  or 
north  from  the  river  St.  Lawrence.  Above 
Kingston,  the  settleuients  extend  from  Lake 
Ontario,  (counting  the  peninsula  between  the 
lake  and  the  Bay  Quantie,  which  in  some  places 
is  10,  and  in  others  SO  mil^  wide)  50  miles. 
Above  the  head  of  the  bay,  on  the  lake  shore^ 
for  about  100  miles,  the  settlements  do  not  ex- 
tend more  than  6  miles  from  the  lake.  Nortl^ 
from  York,  the  settlements  extend  faipthef 
back,  particularly  on  what  is  called  Yonge- 
Street,  which  runs  a  due  north  course  to  Lake 
Simcoe.  On  both  sides  of  this  street,  the  farms 
are  thick  and  well  improved,  the  soil  being  very 
good,  although  the  climate  is  not  so  favorable 
.\8  it  is  farther  to  the  southwest.  From  York, 
west,  along  the  lake  shore,  there  are  but  small 
settlements  on  the  shore  for  20  miles ;  after 
which,  what  is  called  Dundas-street,  4  miles 
.from  the  shore,  is  thickly  settled  on  bot|i  sides 
tor  20  miles ;  as  also  between  this  and  the  lake 
it  is  thinly  inhabited,  although  this  has  not  been 
settled  more  than  6  years  from  the  present  date 


4# 


0  ^■^.^^.- 


T'  •  " 


-i'V 


kttled 

prov- 
/h  are 
those 

proy- 
k  or 
bove 
Lake 
1  the 

>lace3 

niles. 

hore> 

>t  eX". 

North 

uther 

ange- 

Lake 

krm9 

very 

rable 

^orfc, 

mall 

ifter 

niles 

ides    ^ 

lake 

►een 

late 


■  Tf.!'  ■ 


53  ,* 


K(..T. -— ,     . 


% 


(1812)  Above  10  or  15  miles,  at  the  head  of 
Burlington  Bay,  is  what  is  called  Goot's  Para- 
dise. It  is  fine  rich  sabdy  plains,  thickly  set- 
tled 7  miles  from  the  shore,  to|be  foot  of  the 
slope  already  named ;  and  on  the  top,  \?est  antl 
north- veest  for  15  miles^  there  ate  fine  settle* 
ments  in  two  town^ips-^p-Bast  and  West  Flam* 
beau.  Farther  south,  ardtttid  the  head  of  lake 
Ontario,  or  ^i^  parlteularly  Burlitigton  Bay, 
the  setttem^litb  are  thick,  extending  west  16 
miles.  About  fd  miles  up  the  Grand  river,  i^" 
a  thick  settleol^t  of  Oiitch^  in  Brant's  town- 
ship. Still  to  the  east,  as  Ihe  roads  lead  to  Nia- 
gara, the  settlem^fs  ar^  thic^  near  the  shore 
of  L^ke  Ontario.  After  6m^^^^^  miles  east 
of  the  head  of  BurKngtoirS&y,  ^^^^  ^i'^>n 
Niagaraf  settlements  of  an  old  date  are  made, 
and  pfetty  thick,  all  the  way  across  from  lake 
to  lake,  which  is  more  than  SO  miles.  From 
the  thick  settlement  west  of  the  head  of  Lake 
Ontario,  towards  the  London  district,  the  tnhab* 
itants  are  thin  for  20  miles,  through  the  tract  of 
land  belonging  to  the  six  nations  of  Indians. 
The  settlements  in  the  London  district  hare  al- 
ready been  described.  The  settlements  iii|the 
west  end  of  the  province  ar^  chiefly  on  the  St. 
Lawrence,  on  its  course  through  Huron  and 
St.  Glair. 

Civil  I>ivisi0n.^^The  proviaoe  of  Upper  Can* 
ada  is  divided  into  %  districts,  24  counties,  and 


fir 


■w* 


'if 


■•"* 


I 


r 


mn 


% 


it 


; 


< 

A 


I' 


l| 


I; 


5 


# 


r 


'«  . 


.s*. 


* 


^' 


^.>*, 


156  to wnshipst  generally  about  12  miles  square:^^ 
These  townships!  are  surveyed  ii^to  concisions^ 
the  width  ojf  the  townshqp  in  front  towards  the 
lake,  and  one^  mile  and  a  quarter  wide  back 
from  the  lake  to  the  north,  but  in  some  places 
they  are  not  more  thaii  three  quarters  of  a  mile 
wide.  Esieli  townslup  is  ff^ided  into  14  con- 
cisions, the  i/<i^hole  of  which  make  2 184.  Thesie 
concisions  are  subdivi^tod  into  24  lots  of  20^ 
^eref  each,  the  whole  of  which  amounts  to^ 
f  2,4 1 6,  Which  number  t^ultippd  by  200,  will 
produce  10,483t^200,  the  number  of  acres  surt 
veyed  in  the  |p>rbmce,  besides  considerable, 
called  broken  frci||t,  iiot  yet^^rreyed,  granted 
to  those  wh%  owii^^  m  rear  thereof  It 
may  not  be  ami^  |d  remark  here,  that  in  every 
direction  from  the lancb  now  iiurveyed,  there  are 
great  quantities  of  wild  or  unsurveyed  landr 
which  is  equally  as  good  as  that  now  improved. 
Between  every  concision  there  are  4  rods  left 
for  the  public  road,  and  also  between  every  4th 
lot,  which  is  one  quarter  of  a  mile  wide. 

Districis.^Of  these  there  are  8,  as  already 
noted.  The  Eastern  DisMct  is  situated  at  the 
noi|Jbie|ist  end  of  the  province,  joining  the  St. 
Lawr^e  and  Ottaway  riVen.  It  is  in  the  cold? 
est  and  most  unpleasant  part  of  the  province/^ 
the  land  being  sandy,  cold  and  stony,  ingene^ 
ral  producing  peas,  potatK^s,  oats  and  some 
wheat.  The  most  of  the  ii^abitants  are  Scof  eh 
and  French.  ..       ..^v. 


.-^  ,!, 


■V. 

I     J 


visions, 
ds  the 
eback 
places 
a  mile 
4  con- 
These 
f  200 
nts  t(y 
will 

i3  8Ur- 

Table, 
anted 
f.  ft 
every 
re  are 
landir 
oved. 
Is  left 
y  4th 

eady^ 
^  the 

le  St  J 

COldr 

Ince^l 
5ene*| 
some  ^ 
jofeh- 


5^^ 


?  .„ 


%  4" 


The  DisMef  of  Johnstown  lies  up  farther  on 
the  river  St.  Lawrenc^i  and  will  bear  nearly  the 
same  description  as  the  other,  but  is  somethtng 
better.  ^^ 

The  Midland  District  lies  frolti  a  little  below 
Kingston  up  west  t^  the  head  of  tiay  Quantiei  ^, 
comprehencHng;  thal^  beautiful  peninsula  between 
the  bay  and  Ihe  lake»  Thfsdistrict|is  large,  an<l 
thick  settled  with  rich  farniers.  The  land  is 
very  fertiiei  producing  wheat  in  abimdance,  ali^ 
se  apples  and  other  summer  fruit.  The  bay  and 
the  severiU  rivers  that  irun  Intd^it  afford  plenty 
of  fish. 

Newcastle  Districtr  extendi^  froni  the  head 
of  the  !k  Q.uantie,  50  mi^  to  ^  southwest^ 
along  the  ^^ore  of  the  lake,  and  is  divided  into 
two  countiesv  Northumberland  and  Durham. 
This  district  is  well  watered,  rich,  though  a 
Httte  hilly,  4nd  more  stony  than  any  other.  "" 
i  Home, District i  is  still  farther  up  the  lake,  anct 
is  divided  into  two  counties,  York  and  Simcoe. 
It  is  large  and  tolerably  thick  settled ;  it  has  an '" 
abundance  of  white  pine  upon  it,  and  a  number 
of  beautiful  streams  of  water. 

Niagara  District ^  is  situated  south  of  HoUe 
and  the  lake,  in  the  peninsula  between  the  two 
lakes.  It  is  very  large,  and  divided  into  two 
counties,  Lincoln  and  Halderman.  The  latter 
12  on  the  Grand  river,  in  possession  of  the  six 
nations  of  Indiansi  already  named. 


h» 


■>«.     .*■!  a*  " 


>?  • 


'.'I 


, 


n 


^  The  coanty  of  Lincoln  lies  hi  the  east  part  of 
the  peninsula,  joining  ^  on  the  outlet  of  Lake 
Erie,  and  is  divided  into  Sid  townships,  all  which 
are  tolerably  li^ck  settled,  and  well  improved, 
thottgh.not  IP  well  watered  as  other  districts. 

Londm3tstrict  has  beejpi  already  dedcrlbed. 

We$t^f^  DistrfQf  i9^ituat4d  at  the  west  end 
of  the|Nrovl^e,  joiml^  the  river  St.  Lawrence 
^  it  comes  Iromj^l^  Superior  b  the  h^ 
Lake  Erie;;||;  is  la|gl  ^nd  rich,  andibme  pare 
tolerable  well  i^jiroy^:  it  affords  fine  plains^ 
and  has  been  set||edl>y  the  French  more  than 
100  years.  1^  Is  diviided  into  two  counties,  £9- 
sexand  KLenf. 

Xir/^'f  if  oaaS^^  the  upper  province 

was  first  settled,  the  people  labored  under  con^ 
siderable  disadvantages  for  the  want  of  roads : 
nor  could  it  be  expected  that  the  inhabitants 
could  open  any  of  great  extent,  as  the  timber 
in  most  places  is  heavy,  and  they  had  as  much 
as  they  could  do  to  clear  land  to  raito  enough 
produce  to  support  their  families.  Yet  the  op- 
ening of  roads  was  necessary,  and  the  king 
knpw  this  could  not  be  effected  by  the  people 
wllibout  his  assistance,  ^e  therefore  gave  large 
sums  of  money  to  be  lai^  out  for  that  purpose/ 
and  for  a  number  of  years  past,  nearly  the 
whole  amount  of  the  revenue  of  the  province 
which  is  the  king's  money,  amounting  to  60,000/ 
has  been  laid  out  in  opening  and  repairing  of 


Me. 


'■■     '■■  \ 


•'■■ii- 


)art  of 
Lake 
which 
roved, 
lets, 
bribed. 
St  end 
^rence 
sad  of 
epare 
>]ain89 
than 
h  E5. 

Uincei' 
reoxi^ 
oads: 
itants 
imber 
much 
tough 
le  op- 
king 
Bople 
targe  ^ 
pose* 
•  the- 
ince 
OOW 
»g  of 


>* 


57  "'   . 

the  public  highways.  This  with  the  statute  la- 
bor which  the  inhabitants  of  every  township 
perform  is  the  means  of  making  tolerably  good 
road$  in  almost  every  part  of  the  province. 
There  i$  no  toll  taken  for  passing  on  any  road 
or  bridge  in  the  province. 

What  is  called  the  King's  roads  or  high  ways 
are  4  rods  wide,  and  lead  |a,the  directions  now 
to  be  de|ci-ibed:  there  is  one  road  that  leadsf 
from  MontreaU  ^hich  is  in  the  lower  province, 
up  the  riyjBr  §t.  Lawrence,  near  the  bank  on 
tfe  north  side,  through  Cornwall  village  to 
Prescot,  80  on  to  Brockville  and  Kingston; 
from  here  there  are  several  roads  which  lead 
differeint  ways,  thpugh  they  are  opened  by  the 
inhabitants,  except  one  which  is  the  king's  and 
extends  up  towards  the  south-west  about  20 
m.ile$,  when  It  divjjdes  into  two.  One  crosses 
the  Bay  Quahtie,  and  extends  nearly  through 
the  middle  of  the  peninsula  to  the  head.^  The 
other  turii^  to  the  right,  and  extends  up  the 
bay  on  the  north  side,  through  the  Mohawk's 
or  Indian  land,  crosses  Myers  Creek  and  the 
river  Trent,  where  it  empties  info  the  Bay 
Quantie,  extends  a  f^W  miles  to  the  southland 
joins  with  the  other  on  the  carrying  place. 
From  hence  it  leads  on  through  woodland 
(thinly  settled)  by  Presquile  harbour,  for  about 

-  *  This  is  the  best  road, 


* 


«.« 


^vy 


i,^-. 


W- 


K 


w  * 


58 


15  mileS)  when  the  country  appears  more  im- 
^  proved,  and  the  road  tolerably  good.  Within 
about  60  miles  of  York,  the  road  is  bad,  as  the 
ground  18  very  rich  and  soft,  and  but  thinly 
settled;  and  about  46  miles  from  York,  there 
are  two  roads— one  extend?  along  the  lake 
shore  and  is  the  best— the  other  leads  about 
8  miles  to  the  north  f  but  they  m^et  again  at 


■3^'^ 


9 


what  is  called  Liori^stJreek  and  Tavern.  For 
nearly  30  liiHes  to  York,  there  is  but  oihe  road 
(and  that  quite  bad)  till  within  9  miles  of  the 
city.  From  York,  there  is  otieroad%hich  ex- 
tends 40  miles  a  due  jpiorth  course,  to  Lake 
Simcoe.  This  ro^d,  ih  most  places,  is  tolerably 
good.  The  ol;her  road  extendi  the  lake 
shore  16  miles  to  the  river  CJiredit,  wlifere  it 
leaves  the  shore  a  little  to  the  north,  and  ex^ 
tends  to  the  head  of  thQ  laj^e ;  this  rpad  is  not 
very  good.  Two  miles  from  iTork,  oi  the  road 
which  leads  to  Simcoe,  called  Yonge^s  street, 
another  road  leads  out,  expending  to  the  head 
of  the  lake  called  Dundasstreet,  which  is  com- 
pletely straight  for  260  miles  to  the  river 
Thames,  near  Detroit.  Although  it  is  not  pas- 
sable in  all  places,  yet  #here  it  is  not  opened, 
there  are  other  roads  near  by,  which  lead  the 
the  same  way,  and  enter  it  again*  Where  it 
crosses  the  Grand  River,  over  which  there  is  a 
good  bridge,*  three  miles-  above  the  Mohawk 

*^This  bnclge  w  not  quite  finished. 


,f  ;.A- 


0 


•^ 


•e  im- 
Within 
IS  the 
hinly 
there 

lake 
a^put 
UQ  at 

For 
road 

the 
h  ex- 


rably 


re  U 
1  ex- 

3  llOt 


treet^ 
head 
corn- 
river 
;  pas- 
^ned, 
ithe 
re  it 
'  is  a 
awk 


■^s"' 


59 


village  of  Indians,  there  is  another  road  turns 
to  the  south,  through  beautiful  and  sandy  dry 
plains,  to  Turkey-Point,  near  Long- Point,  in  ^ 
Lake  Erie,  which  is  35  miles.  This  road  ex- 
tends up  the  lake  shore  to  Port-Talbert,  al^ 
though  it  is  not  passable  the  whole  way.  From 
Fort  Erie,  Iwo  miles  below  the  ferry  at  Black-  - 
rock,  there  extendi  a  ^'^-^.d  up  the  shore  pf  Lake 
Erie  more  than  ^^  miit  and  anothe^ '  S  miles 
down  to  the  Niagara  falls,  here  it  divides :  one 
extends  to  the  west  through  the  fieaver  dams 
towards  the  head  of  Ontario,  up  the  stream  of 
the  twenty  mile  creek  to  a  little  village  called 
Aswago,  and  on  the  main  road  from  Niagara 
to  Grand  River.  This  is  a  tolerable  good  road. 
From  the  falls  another  extends  down  the  Ni- 
jara  river  by  Quefeiiston  to  Fort  George :  from 
mce  there  is  a  good  road  up  and  near  the 
Lake  shore  for  45  miles,  when  it  turns  to  the 
south  over  the  me^^'^  ain,  and  oonnects  with 
the  one  just  noticed.  40  miles  from  Niagara, 
at  what  is  called  the  fifty  mile  creek,  one  road 
turns  to  the  right  and  crosses  the  beach  already 
mentioned  between  the  lake  and  Burlington 
Bay,  towards  York-  .JThere  is  also  a  road  that 
extends  from  QueensEon  towards  the  head  of 
the  lake  through  what  is  called  the  black  ^ 
swamp,  and  joins  with  the  one  from  Niagara?  - 
about  10  miles  from  it  a  little  short  of  the  twelve 
mile  creek  at  Shipman's  tavern. 


•■i  I  -  •.  •  i   I. 


'  ip> 


-^ 


60 


H 


1 1 


%  These  are  all  the  king's  roads  or  public  high- 
ways :  yet  there  are  many  more  roads  through- 
out all  the  province,  which  lead  in  every  direc- 
tion, and  many  of  them  are  very  good  and  con- 
venient, ^r 

Bearing  and  distances  ofpla^ceis*  —The  village 
and  fort  of  Prescott  are  on  the  ii6f tb  bank  of 
theSt.  Liawrence,  opposite  to  the  river  Oswegat- 
chie,  or  the  old  garrison  at  Ogdensburgh.  The 
The  St.  Lawrence  is  2  miles  wide  here  and  has 
ia  small  current.  Sixty-five  miles  farther  up  the 
river,  stands  Kingston,  near  the  bottom  of  La£e 
Oniric,  nearly  opposite,  (though  a  little  to  the 
east)  of  Sackett's  Harbor.  The  distance  from 
one  to  another,  on  akraight  line,  is  27  miles ; 
though  the  nearest  way  that  can  be  passedby 
land  on  the  road,  (and  a  bad  me)  is  34  miles? 
and  36  by  water  or  ice. 
-  ^  Seventy  five  miles  from  Kingston  is  situated 
Presquile  harbor,  already  noted.  It  is  nearly 
opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Oswego  river  on  the 
United  States'  side.  The  lake  is  67  miles  wide 
here,  but  has  been  crossed  in  7  hours. 

One  hundred  miles  from  this  harbor,  up  the 
lake,  stands  York,  nearly  opposite  Niagara, 
though  a  little  to  the  northwest,  on  a  straight 
line.  The  distance  from  one  to  the  other  is 
34  miles;  but  by  land  around  the  head  of 
Lake  Ontario,  it  is  90  miles.  Niagara  is  oppo- 
site  Niagara  Fort,  on  the  United  States  side. 
The  river  ig  1200  yards  wide  here. 


it 


't 


■';■     -•^- 


*%1 


ic  high- 
irough- 
direc- 
id  con« 

village 
ink  of 
wegae- 
The 
nd  has 
up  the 
f  LaKe 
to  the 
e  from 
miles ; 
ssedby 

milesy 

tuated 
nearly 
on  the 
s  wide 

up  the 
agara^ 
raight 
her  is 
ad  of 
oppo- 
3  side. 


^ 


61  ^ 

In  the  year  1811,  the  number  of  inhabitanti 
in  both  provinces,  was  S60,000.  In  the  upper 
province,  there  were  136,000,  not  including  In< 
dians  in  the  settled  parts  of  the  province. 

The  number  of  the  militia,  Qjr  of  those  who 
are  liable  to  do  duty,  from  the  age  of  16  to  60, 
are  22,660  including  Indians  on  the  bounds  of 
the  province  at  that  time.  '  ^ 

Learning  — The  greater  part  of  the?  inhabit 
tants  of  Canada  are  not  well  educated,  for  as 
they  were  poor  when  they  came  to  the  province 
and  the  country  being  but  thinly  settled  for  a 
number  of  years,  they  had  but  little  chance  for 
the  benefit  of  schools.  But  since  the  country 
has  become  niore  settled,  and  the  inhabitants 
rich,  or  in  a  good  way  of  living,  which  is  al- 
most universally  the  case,  they  pay  considera- 
ble attention  to  learning. 

Ten  dollars  a  year  is  the  common  price  giv- 
en  for  the  tuition  of  each  scholar  by  good  teach- 
ers. 

Until  lately,  there  was  no  Latin  or  Greek 
school  kept  in  the  province.  Now  there  are 
three — one  in  York,  taught  by  the  Episcopal 
minister  of  that  place— one  on  the  Bay  Quan- 
tie  by  a  Mr.  Bidwell,  from  the  United  States 
-^and  the  other  in  Niagara  village,  by  Rev. 
Burns.  Good  encouragement  would  be  given 
in  many  other  parts  to  teachers  of  such  schools, 
particularly  in  the  Niagara  and  London  dig^- 
tricts.  ,  ^  1^ 

■'■    ■     '  * .  ,.  ' 


4,, 


1i 


*,» 


'^■;' 


''.*y"^"i    ■     vr* 


^'      . 


62 


I 


A 


4^ 


Notwithstanding  I  said  that  the  main  body 
of  the  inhabitants  were  not  well  educated,  yet 
there  are  a  number  of  gentlemen  in  the  pro- 
vince who  have  the  best  of  learning. 

There  b  a  public  free  school  kept  in  every 
district,  by  order  of  the  king,  the  teachers  of 
which  receive  annually  100  pounds  sterling 
from  the  crown. 

Morals.-^ll  is  an  idea  entertained  by  the 
generality  of  the  people  of  the  United  States, 
that  the  inhabitants  of  Canada  are  some  of  ti^e 
worst  people  in  the  world,  made  up  of  rogues, 
murderers,  and  the  like  meim  characters.  How- 
ever,  the  idea  is  entirely  false.  That  there  has 
some  bad  characters  escaped  f^om  different  parts 
of  the  United  States  to  C^ada,  no  one  will 
deny;  but  these  cannot  be  called  the  inhabi- 
tants, but  only  sojourners.  But  I  may  say, 
whether  I  am  believed  or  not,  that  the  main 
body  of  the  people  of  Canada  are  peaceable, 
just,  and  generous  in  all  their  intttcdtirse  with 
each  other,  and  strangers  also;  they  are  bene- 
volent, being  once  poor  themselves,  they  know 
how  to  feel  for  human  want  and  human  wo.  I 
have  been  acquainted  with  some  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  almost  every  neighbourhood,  and  have 
found  them  to  be  nearly  all  alike,  except  those 
from  England  or  Ireland.  I  have  also  attend- 
ed a  number  of  the  courts  of  justice,  and  was 
surprised  to  see  so  little  business  done  at  them. 

»  *>  . 


/ 


* 


63  ^       . 

The  most  of  the  inhafoitantB  of  the  western  or 
upper  part  of  the  province  are  from  the  states 
of  New-Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  and  New- York, 
and  yet  retain  a  considerable  degree  of  that  rec- 
titude of  conduct  and  conversation  observed 
among  the  Quakers  and  Presbyterians  in  tho!5e 
States.  There  is  hardly  ever  an  instance  of  a 
person  stealing  in  this  province,  not  perhaps  be- 
cause all  the  inhabitants  are  too  good,  but  partly 
from  this  cause,  and  partly  because  the  penalty 
annexed  to  the  crime  is  death;  however,  no 
cue  has  been  put  to  death  in  the  province  yet« 
Religion. — About  one  half  of  the  people  of 
Canada  that  have  come  to  the*  age  of  maturity, 
are  professors  of  religion:  however,  a»inall 
other  places  they' are  of  different  sentiments 
and  sectaries.  The  Methodists  are  the  most  nu. 
merous,  an^  are  scattered  all  over  the  province. 
The  other  sectaries  are  more  Ipcals  and  are  asfol. 
lows :  there  are  Id  churches  of  baptists,  about 
lOOOin  nfi4|;1^r,  and  11  preachers;  1  church  in 
Bastard  township,  1  in  Thurlow,  I  in  Sidney, 
1  in  Percy,  I  in  HallowelU  I  in  Sufiasburgh, 
(these  5  last  are  on  the  Bay  Quantie)  I  in 
Cramahe,  1  in  HildamiUi  I  in  Whitby,  1  in 
Markham,  1  in  Townsends  1  in  Oxford*  I  in 
Charlotteville,  1  in  Clinton,  and  1  in  Niagara* 
There  are  6  Ministers  and  Congregations  of 
Episcopalians :  1  at  Cornwall,  1  at  Kingston, 
1  at  York,  I  at  Niagara,  1  at  Turkey  Point,  1 


m 


im 


.,  64 

at  Sand  which.*  Ther^  are  10  congregations 
of  Presbyterians,  and  7  Ministers.  One  in  Lon< 
don  district  (Townsend)  a  Mr.  Colver,  Minis- 
fer,  a  very  old  gentleman ;  1  in  Ancatter*  near 
the  head  of  Ontario,  a  Mr.  Williams,  Minister; 
L  on  the  twenty  mile  cree)c,  20  miles  from  Ni- 
agara, a  Mr.  Eastman,  Minister;  I  in  Niagara 
village,  a  Mr.  Burns,  Minister ;  1  in  York,  no 
Minister  ;  1  on  the  Bay  Quantie,  1  in  Kings- 
ton, and  3  below.  There  are  5  congregations 
of  Quakers  or  friends:  1  in  Adolphustown,  80 
miles  west  of  Kingston  on  the  Bay  Quantie,  1 
in  Roxbridge,  30  miles  north  east  of  York,  on 
a  new  township,  1  on  Yonge  street  near  Lake 
Simcoe,  I  in  the  township  of'  Norwich,  on  the 
the  river  Thames,  and  I  at  the  short  hills,  not 
far  from  Lake  Erie,  30  miles  south-west  of 
Niagara.  There  is  also  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  the  Dutch  Moneasts  in  the  province ;  a 
large  settlement  of  them  reside  in  Clinton  town- 
ship, not  far  from  Niagara,  iis  also  another  in 
Markham,  near  York,  and  on  Yonge  street, 
and  some  other  parts.  There  is  also  some  Tan- 
kers in  the  province,  and  a  few  Roman  Catho- 
lics. They  have  a  chapel  in  Cornwall,  and  in 
Kingst(Mi  and  Sandwich.  There  is  also  some 
other  sectaries  in  the  province,  all  of  which  en- 

*  There  is  also  another  congregation  and  Minister  on 
Yonge-street  lately  become  such :  a  Mr.  Joseph  Lock- 
wood,  ©nee  a  Methodist,  is  thcit  Minister/ 


-m- 


M 


Rations 
nLon< 
Minis- 
*»  near 
nister; 
>tn  Ni- 
iagara 
rk,  no 
S^ings- 
ations 
vn,80 
itle,  1 
rk,  on 
Lake 
)n  the 
ts,  not 
dst  of 
num- 
ice ;  a 
town- 
ber  in 
street, 
Tun. 
'atho- 
nd  in 
some 
h  en- 
ter OB 
Lock- 


' 


joy  fuH  liberty  of  conscience  to  worship  Qod 
as  they  please,  and  are  protected  by  law  from 
penalties,  impositions,  or  burthens  of  any  kind 
relative  to  religious  concerns.  The  Episcopal 
clergy  are  paid  by  the  king.  *^  The  one  sev- 
enth part  of  aU  the  land  in  Upper  Canada  is 
appropriated,  accordiilg  to  the  constitution,  for 
the  maintenace  of  a  Protestant  clergy  within 
the  province/'  This  land  lies  in  200  acre  lot"?, 
and  is  leased  out  for  21  years,  at  2  dollars  the 
ilm  7  years  of  the  lease,  4  dollars  the  second  7, 
and  six  dollars  the  third  7.  The  rent  of  these 
lots,  called  Clergy  rserves,  is  given  to  the  Cler 
gy  to  the  amount  of  800  dollars  a  year.  Tl)<^ 
Clergy  of  the  other  seotaries  are  paid  according 
to  the  will  and  bounty  of  their  hearers.  There 
has  been  no  generid  revival  of  religion  of  late 
in  Canada,  yet  the  people  in  general  pay  a  ve- 
ry serious  attention  to  it,  and  attend  to  preach- 
ing very  well.  Profane  swearing  is  seldom 
heard,  and  the  sabbath  is  regarded  with  con- 
siderable reverence.  Bigotry  or  superstition  is 
not  often  to  be  discovered  an^  )T)g  the  inhab. 
itants  of  Canada,  of  course  they  do  not  perse- 
cute each  other,  but  are  friendly  and  loving- 

Diversions. — The  inhabitants  of  almost  every 
country  have  their  diversions,  which  vary  ac- 
cording to  their  notions  of  pleasure.  Of  course, 
the  people  of  Canada  have  theirs,  which  how- 
ever, are  of  aaexercising  and  ionocent  nature. 


^  * 


|!| 


i^ 


I 


It  i 


E 


Sit    y 


I 


1^ 

f 


Meeting  together  at  private  houses  and  dan- 
cing is  a  fovorite  amusement  of  the  young  peo- 
ple.   This,  however,  is  not  carried  to  excess.  ^' 

Hunting  deer  and  hears  in  the  winter  is  also 
a  diversion,  and  a  very  profkali^e  one. 

Sleighing  is  another  amusement  of  which  the 
people  are  very  fond,  and  for  which  they  are 
well  prepared,  as  it  respects  horses,  sleighs,  clo- 
thing, and  furs.  They  also  very  much  esteem 
the  music  of  bells,  some  having  at  times  40  on 
the  harness  of  2  horses.  Much  produce  is  taken 
to  market  in  the  winter  by  sleighs,  in  which  is 
connected  both  pleasure  and  profit.  As  this  Is 
a  level  country,  and  the  snow  lies  pretty  deep  aU 
winter,  there  is  very  good  sleighing.  Most  of 
the  people  drive  Jehu  like,  or  «^  furious."         ? 

The  melody  of  the  human  voice  is  also  an 
amusement  of  the  young  people  of  both  sexes. 
Teachers  of  this  art  will  meet  with  good  encour- 
agement in  almost  every  part  of  Canada.        ^■ 

Comparatively  speaking,  Canada  is  but  a  new 
thinly  settled  country ;  yet,  contrary  to  the  cus- 
tom of  the  inhabitants  of  juch  places,  the  peo- 
ple here  dress  well  at  all  times,  but  when  they 
go  abroad,  or  on  the  sabbath,  they  dress  very 
fine.  When  I  say  they  dref;s  fine,  I  do  not 
mean  that  fancied  fineness,  studied  and  practis'- 
ed  in  large  cities  and  populous  places-^-such  as 
jewels,  rings,  ribands,  powder,  paint,  and  the 
like ;  but  with  garments  of  the  finest  rtuffs,  with 


Hf-fcv  •  nils 


Cl^T^f    — 


«*>. 


m 


nd  dan- 
ng  peo- 

:cess. 
*  is  alsa 

lichtfae 
ley  are 
hSi  clo- 
esteem 

3  taken 
hieh  i$ 
this  Is 
eepaR 
pst  of 
■  ;r 
ilso  an 
sexes. 
ncour- 

a  new 
le  cus- 
e  peo- 
i  they 
3  very 
ionot 
ractisr- 
ich  as 
id  the 
,  with 


F 


but  few  trinkets  of  any  kind.  The  most  of 
their  clothing  is  of  their  own  manufacturing, 
particularly  the  woollen,  for  which  they  have 
plenty  of  the  best  of  wool. 

Horse-racingf  cafd-playing«  and  the  like  un- 
profitable and  sinful  diversions  are  very  seldom 
performed  in  Canada. 

"  Drunkenness  and  dissipation  are  seldom  seen 
among  the  people.  As  all  have  to  get  their  liv- 
ing by  their  labor,  there  appears  to  be. but  little 
time  or  temptation  to  frequent  taverns  for  that 
purpose. 

i  The  people  of  Canada  pay  very  little  attertion 
to  any  kind  of  diversion  in  the  summer,  except  to 
visit  one  another  in  a  social  manner,  and  drink 
tea,  of  which  they  are  very  fond,  and  a  friendly 
diitchat.  The  most  of  their  conversation  at  these 
times  relate  to  their  former  poverty  and  present 
plenty,  and  to  which  I  was  happy  to  listen,  when- 
ever it  happened  in  my  hearing,  as  it  indicated  a 
contented  and  thankful  mind  in  their  present 
situation)  and  could  wish  and  say  with  propri- 
ety—E5/0  perpetua^  ori  may  it  last  forever. 

Maftufactures.'^-^i  is  not  to  be  expected  that 
the  manufactories  of  Canada  are  many  or  ex- 
tensive. There  is  some  iron  made  in  the  pro- 
vince, though  the  quantity  is  smaH. 

Salt  is  also  made  here,  though  to  a  small 
amount,  but  might  be  made  in  great  quantities. 

Hats,  shoes,  boots,  and  tin  and  crockery 
ware  are  manufactured  here  in  ^reat  plenty. 


*:- 


•m'' 


HHilli 


»< 


I 


15   -^; 


M 


68 


Linen  and  woollen  cloths  are  made  in  abun- 
dance. 

Whiskey,  and  apple  and  peadi  brandy  are 
also  made  in  considerable  quantities^  > 

^PROMISCUOUS  REMARKS  ON  THE  GOVSHNMENT. 

,.^^  The  constitutioui  la  ws>and  government  of  Up- 
per Canada  are  much  better  than  people,  unac- 
quainted with  them,  expect.  It  is  not  my  intention 
here  to  write  much  respecting  the  government 
though  I  had  taken  much  pains  in  studying  it 
with  an  intention  of  pi^lishing  the  result  of  my 
inquiries  on  the  subject.  One  year  before  the 
declaration  of  war  by  the  American  govern- 
ment against  England,  while  in  Canada^  I  issu- 

-ed  proposals  for  a  geographical  and  political 
view  of  the  province ;  but,  as  it  it  is  now  gene- 
ral^ expected  that  the  province  will  fall  into 

Vihe  hands  of  the  American  government  I  shall 

*  make'^^nly  a  few  remarks  on  the  subject. 

In  the  year  1791,  the  then  called  province  of 
Quebec,  was  by  an  act  of  the  British  parlia- 
ment divided  into  two  separate  provinces^— to 
be  called  the  province  of  Lower  Canada,  and 
the  province  of  Upper  Canada.  By  this  act,  a 
constitution  was  formed  for  each  province,  each 
in  its  nature  calculated  to  suit  the  situation  of  their 
respective  inhabitants^— one  being  chiefly  settled 
by  the  French,  and  the  other  by  the  English. 

The  constitution  put  it  out  of  the  power  of 
the  British  parliament  to  impose  any  taxes  on 
the  people,  either  upon  their  property  or  trade, 


.-"-<: 


m 


% 


•'f 


►-jMi 


.J^^ 


.^- 


@9 


h- 


A  abun- 

idy  are 

unt. 
;ofUp. 
s  unaC" 
tention 
mmenf; 
)ring  it 
;of  my 
ore  the 
jovern- 
1 1  issu< 
olitical 
f  gene- 
%]l  into 
I  shall 

ince  of 
parlia- 
©s-p— to 
»,  and 
t  act,  a 
if  each 
>ftheir 
settled 
;lish. 
werof 
ces  OQ 
trade) 


but  what  was  necessary  for  the  regulation  of 
commerce :  but  this  should  be  disposed  of  by 
the  legislature  of  the  province,  for  the  benefit 
of  the  same.  The  constitution  also  provides 
for  the  creation  of  a  legislative  council  and  a 
legislative  assembly.  The  king  also  sends  a 
governor  who  acts  in  the  king's  name.  The 
members  of  the  legislative  council  are  selected 
by  the  king  and  governor  jointly ;  these  hold 
their  seats  during  life  if  they  do  not  forfeit  it. 
The  members  of  the  legislative  assembly  are 
elected  every  4th  year  by  the  freemen  of  the  pro- 
vince. Any  man  of  the  age  of  24,  and  wh6  is 
worth  property  to  the  amount  of  40^.  a  year,  and 
has  been  in  the  province  7  years,  may  be  elect- 
ed  a  member  of  the  legislative  assembly,  or  vote 
for  one.*  The  making  of  laws  for  the  w^tfare 
of  the  people  is  the  business  of  the  legislative 
assembly,  miist  be  assented  to  by  the  legislative 
council  and  governor,  in  the  king's  name,  be- 
fore they  become  laws,  yet  the  legislative  coun. 
oil,  governor,  British  parliament  or  king,  can- 
not make  any  laws  fer  the  people  of  Canada, 
*'  without  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  legisla* 
tive  assembly," 

From  hence  we  see  that  the  people  have  got 
the  means  of  guarding  themselves.  About  1 2 
years  ago,  the  assemby  passed  an  act  dividing 
the  province  into  districts  or  ridings,  every  oqe 


-V.  'S*' 


*  The  people  vote  in  Canada  by  word  of  mouth, 


V  -'/ 


:i.; 


.« 


■  H^f^ 


**4»/^ 


f     ^ 


fa 

It 


It 


I 


I 


! 


70 


of  Ti^hich  sends  one  member  to  parliameiit  or 
the  assembly.  The  number  of  membersi  at  pre- 
sent, Augast.  1812,  is  26,  two  thirds  of  which 
are  natives  of  the  United  States  ;*  less  than  one 
third  of  the  justices  of  the  peace  are  Americans, 
the  sheriffs  are  either  Europeans  or  loyalists; 
the  jury,  according  to  the  constitution,  must  be 
taken  in  rotation  from  each  township,  as  their 
names  stand  on  the  assessment  roll  or  list  of 
names;  of  course  the  majority  are  always 
Americans.  The  majority  of  the  courts  of  quar- 
ter sessions,  probale,  surrogate,  and  courts  of 
kill's  bench,  are  Europeans ;  yet  the  proceed- 
ings of  those  courts  are  regulated  by  the  actjsi 
^  •f  the  assembly.  t* 

';    In  the  second  session  of  the  first  parliament, 
^1792^^,  an  act  was  passed  to  prevent  the 
Ifur^r  introduction  of  slaves.    The  excellent 
words  of  thr^  act  being  thus:— "Whereas  it  is 
unjust  that  a  peopleievho  enjoy  freedomi  by  law 
should  encourage  slavery — —That  after  the 


passing  of  this  act,  no  person  brought  into  the 
province  shall  be  subject  to  the  condition  of  a 
slave.''  All  that  were  then  in  the  province  are 
free  at  25  years  of  age.  ^ 

The  taxes  in  Canada  are  very  small,  no  per- 
son is  taxed  more  than  one  penny  upon  the 
pound  sterling  he  is  worth,  according  to  the  val-. 

*  Nominister  of  the  gospel  can  get  in  either  house,  of 
•ourdethe  peopl«  are  not  afraid  of  spiritual  tyranny. 


•?"i' 


}: 


lent  or 
at  pre- 
which 
lanone 
Ticans, 
ralists; 
lust  be 
s  their 
list  of 
ilways 
fquar- 
urts  of 
oceed- 
leacts 

imenti 
mtthe 
cellent 
%3  it  is 
>ylaw 
?r  the 
ito  the 
I  of  a 
ce  are 

o  per- 
m  the 
le  val-, 

•use,  of 


71 


uation  of  property  made  by  act  of  parliament, 
and  which  at  present  is  not  more  than  half  of 
what  it  would  sell  for.  The  taxes  so  collected 
are  laid  out  by  the  judges  of  the  court  of  quar- 
ter sessions*  for  the  benefit  of  the  district  from 
which  it  is  collected,  and  where  the  court  is — 
it  is  to  pay  the  wages  of  the  members  of  assem- 
bly  sent  from  the  district,  and  half  of  the  sala* 
ry  of  the  sheriffs  of  the  same ;  to  build  or  repair 
the  courthouse  or  jail,  and  the  like.  The  whole 
expence  of  the  government  of  Canada,  except 
what  is  here  noted,  is  paid  by  the  king,  which, 
together  with  the  Indian  department,  cost  him 
1  million  and  a  half  sterling  annually,  and  which 
frees  the  people  from  a  great  burthen, 

The  Moneasts,  Tunkers,  and  Q,uid^rsj  are 
exempted  from  military  duty  by  payi)^  annu- 
ally in  time  of  peace  5  dollars,  and  in  time  of 
war  20.  The  governor  of  the  province  haf 
power  by  law  to  call  out  all  the  militia,  and  to 
cross  them  over  the  line  in  pursuit  of  an  enemy 
that  has  invaded  the  province,  or  to  destroy 
any  fort  or  fortification,  that  may  be  the  means 
of  covering  or  assisting  an  invasion,  but  in  no 
other  case. 

Stealing  exposes  a  person  to  death,  if  the  thing 
stolen  is  worth  13  pence,  yet  the  plaintiff  may 
value  it  as  low  as  he  pleases,  and  if  below  1 3 
pence,  the  thief  is  clear.  No  one  has  yet  been 
hung  in  Up;^er  Canada  for  stealing,  however 
the  people  are  afraid  to  venture  their  lives  in 
the  hands  of  others. 


% 


fl 


i 


■-w"' 


••j"  .»-■. 


m 


"I 


APPENDIX.  ^ 


1^ 


DESCRIPTION   OF   NIAGARA  FALLS. 


I 
I  I 


^^  Many  writers  have  attempted  to  describe  this 
ouriosity  of  nature ;  yet  all  the  descriptions 
that  I  have  read,  appear  to  me  not  to  be  suffi- 
ciently illustrative  or  correct:  I  will  therefore 
describe  it  myself,  in  as  plain  a  manner  as  pos- 
sible, unadorned  with  any  fanciful  strokes  of 

^  rhetoric. 
»In  order  to  have  a  proper  view  of  the  falls, 
and  adjacent  parts,  I  will  suppose  a  person  to 
he  sailing,  in  a  little  boat,  out  of  Lake  Ontario, 
up  the  Niagara  river  or  outlet  of  Liake  Erie. 

jSoon  after  you  leave  the  lake,  you  pass  the  vil- 
lage of  Niagara,  on  the  right  hand,  and  Niaga- 
ra old  fort  on  the  JJ.  S.  side.  A  little  further 
up,  you  pass  fort  George  on  the  right— here 
the  water  is  deep  and  smooth.  You  still  sail 
on  a  due  south  course,  the  water  being  smooth^ 
and  the  banks  about  16  feet  high,  and  in  most 
places  perpendicular  for  7  miles.  Here  you 
come  to  Queenston  on  the  right  hand,  and 
Lewiston  on  the  left,  or  United  States  side. 
This  place  is  called  the  landing,  for  here  all  the* 
lading  of  vessels  destined  for  the  country,  each 

side  of  Lake  Erie,  and  the  Michigan  territory, 


1  r 


J 


7» 


are  taken  out  and  conveysi  tip  the  mountain 
or  slope  9  mile;  lo  the  still  water,  2  miles  above 
the  frills.  The  ascent  of  this  slope,  though  300 
feet  high,  is  very  easy.  The  river  here  is  half 
a  mile  wide,  and  a  little  above  there  is  a  whirl 
of  Considerable  depth,  though  not  dangerous.* 
After  you  pass  this  place  300  yards,  you  enter 
the  dismal  chime :  and  instead  of  the  lively  pros- 
piect  of  the  sailing  of  ships  with  flying  colours, 
fruitful  fields  and  pleasant  landscapes,  you  are 
all  at  once  buried  in  a  grave  of  at  least  300  feet 
deep.  Although  it  is  open  at  the  top,  should 
you  look  up,  the  sight  is  truly  gloomy :  the 
banks  are  perpendicular,  and  in  some  places 
niore  than  perpendicular,  abounding  v^ith  crag- 
gy rocks  hanging  over  your  head  in  a  frightful 
thinner)  near  the  surface,  there  is  to  be  seen 
flat  rocks  projecting  towards  each  other  iri4 
horizontal  positiori.t  You  still  row  on  a  soiittti 
direction  With  little  variation,  the  water  is  con- 
siderably rapid,  and  the  banks  have  nearly  the 
same  appearance,  until  within  about  a  mile  of 
the  cataract,  where  the  banks  are  not  quite  so 

•  *This  place  is  memorable.  Here  the  Americans 
crossed  on  the  1 3th  of  October,  1 8 1 2,  to  invade  Canada, 
f  This  place  is  alsd  memorable*  Down  in  this  dread- 
ful  chime,  a  number  of  the  American  soldiers  wfre  drove 
headlong  by  the  Iiidiahs,  after  they  had  surrenderect 
themselves  prisoners  of  war  to  the  British,  on  the  13th 


of 


er,  1812. 


'  f.: 


G 


k 


y'^ 


'4% 


-fMl 


'««■ 


V  ^-v 


■■^^K''' 


%.M 


'^4^ 


-'A 


MMMMpi 


f» : 


1^, 


1 


'  ? 


I  ^- 


■?? 


) 


;■■>■ 


74 


high ;  but  still  all  is  gloomy)  as  you  are.  buried 
from  the  sight  of  the  land  of  the  living,  and 
must  be  filled  vnith  haunted  thoughts  of  500 
murdered  dead,  that  in  one  fatal  hour,  plunged 
into  the  mighty  grave  near  which  you  now  are.^ 
As  you  proceed,  the  water  becomes  very 
rapid,  and  at  length  the  mighty  falls  appear  In 
full  tremendous  view,  and  fill  the  ear  with 
dismal  roar.  It  is  8  miles  from  Queenston. 
s  When  you  arrive  within  300  yards  of  the  cat- 
aracty  you  must  stop.  Here  the  bed  of  the 
river  widens,  and  is  not  sunk  more  than  half 
the  distance  below  the  surface,  as  it  was  at  your 
^  first  entrance  of  the  chime.  A  view  of  the 
horizon  is  of  course  more  extensive.  In  sitting 
in  your  little  bark,  the  above  distance,  with 
your  face  to  the  south,  before  you  flows  the 
main  body  of  water,  and  plunges  over  with  a 
tremendous  dash.  About  60  yards  of  the  mid- 
dle of  this  cataract  is  much  deeper  than  the  rest 

^       ■/  ■    ■     ;  ;      ,  ...      , 

*  Some  distance  below  the  falls^  en  the  U.  S,  side^ 
near  the  chiire,  there  is  a  hole^  called  the  Devil's  Hole, 
300  yards  in  circuity  and  300  feet  deep,  with  trees  and 
craggy  rocks  sticking  to  the  inner  surface.  In  the 
French  war  in  this  province,  in  1759,  there  was  a  com- 
fiany  of  500  American  and  British  soldiers,  with  all  their 
l^^ggag^  waggons,  marching  by  the  hole  ;  when  they 
were  all  driven  into  it,  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  by  a 

#  company  of  French,  who  lay  in  ambush.     Only  2  men 
;    escaped.     One  of  them  now  lives  5  miles  from  the  g||ce. 

*  *      '''wm  ■  ■  ■  '    -^  ^  .-;  -  ■ '  ■■  ^*#*-      '  :^"w§y^ •. 


1^' 


/  : 


f 


buried 

g*  and 

of  500 

>Iunged 

w  are.* 

js  very 

)pear  in 

X  with 

enston. 

the  cat- 

of  the 

an  half 

at  your 

of  the 

sitting 

le,  with 

>ws  the 

with  a 

he  mid- 

the  rest 

S.  side^ 
il's  Hote, 
irees  and 
In  the 
is  a  corn- 
all  their 
ien  they 
net,  by  a 
^  2  men 
[lejilj^ce. 


^' 


7d 


in  consequence  of  a  chime  sunk  in  the  rock. 
The  water  has  a  bluish  green  appearance. 
On  your  left  hand,  comes  the  other  part  of  the 
river  not  so  large  by  a  sixth  part,  and  falls  over 
also. 

.<This  river  is  divided  into  two  separate  pitch- 
es, each  400  yards  in  width.*  This  division 
is  made  by  a  small  inland,  crouding  up  to  the 
verge  of  the  rock,  near  the  middle.  It  extends 
half  a  mile  up  the  stream,  and  terminates  in  a 
point,  where  the  water  divides  to  the  right 
and  left. 

The  form  of  the  cataract  bends  inward;?,  or 
is  nearly  a  simicircle.  By  the  striking  force 
of  the  falling  water  on  that  below,  wind  is  pres- 
sed und^r,  which  rises  below  in  a  foaming 
manner,  though  not  to  any  height  or  vio- 
lence.t 

The  lime  stone  rock,  on  theU.  S.  side,  over 
which  the  water  flows,  shelves  considerably, 
and  leaves  a  large  cavity  between  the  base  and 
falling  column  of  water;  and,  were  it  not  for 
the  d&pression  of  air,  a  person  might  walk 
some  distance  in  it  without  being  wet. 

*  Great  numbers  of  small  eels  may  be  seen  on  the 
edge  of  the  beach>  below  the  falls.  They  are  trying  to 
get  over;  but  cannot  succeed^  Unless  some  one  assists 
them. 

f  This  Mr.  EUicott  compares  to  cockd  of  hay ;  but  I 
have  never  seen  any  thing  of  that  appearance. 


li 


I, 


m- 


M> 


i'' 


"      II      ■HI'     >■ 


,:' 


I 


i 


'. 


* 


L 


'^5 

I 

Si 


«i9! 


76 


''^>Mk 


,  Tlie  uiighty  dash  of  so  great  a  body  of  wa- 
ter on  the  bed  below,  raises  a  fog  or  small  rain, 
wfiich  mounts  up  and  spreads  to  a  considerable 
distance,  in  which,  (when  the  mn  shines)  may 
be  seen  a  variety  of  beautiful  rainbows.  In  the 
.vinter,  this  rain  lighting  upon  the  neighboring 
trees,  congeals  in  a  thousand  shapes,  forming  » 
romantic  and  pleasing  appearance. 

About  half  a  mile  above  the  falls,  what  are 
called  the  rapids  begin,  i  nd  descend  50  feet  to 
the  cataract.*  The  water  descends  below  the 
falls  70  feet.  The  draft  of  this  rapid  is  so  greal, 
that  it  often  reaches  ducks  and  geese,  when  they 
appear  to  be  half  a  mile  out  of  danger,  and 
when  once  under  the  influence  of  the  impetu- 
ous current;,  they  cannot  get  on  the  wing  again. 
Indians  with  their  canoes  have  been  known  to 
be  irresistibly  carried  down  the  rapid,  and  have 
disappeared  forever. 

Afcfove  this  rapid,  the  river  sjureads  to  nearly 
3  miles  wide,  and  is  shaljiow,  with  several  small 
islands. 

The  river  now  has  a  southeast  course  to 
Grand  Island,  9  miles  wide,  and  then  south  to 
lake  Erie,  where  it  is  only  a  mile  wide.  This 
is  20  miles  from  the  falls  by  water.  From  this 
place,  you  may  sail  more  than  1000  miles  if  you 
wish,  to  the  end  of  Lake  Superior,  without  en- 
countering  any  more  falls. 


Th^  bed  of  the  rapids  is  very  rdcl?y. 


t%j 


,*»! 


of  wa- 
ll rain, 
ieraDle 
a)  may 
In  the 
boring 
ninga 

lat  are 
feet  to 
ow  the 
great, 
^nthey 
r,  and 
mpetu- 
again. 
own  to 
icl  have 

nearly 
Ismail 

irse  to 
rath  to 
This 
m  this 
if  you 
)ut  en. 


77 


If  my  reader  pleases,  I  will  invite  him  back 
again,  to  view  and  contemplate  a  little  more  this 
awful  scene.  On  both  sides  of  the  rapids,  above 
the  falls,  the  banks  of  the  river  are  quite  low, 
and  there  are  many  convenient  situations  for 
water  works.  Several  are  now  erected,  yet 
there  is  room  for  more.  With  a  small  expence, 
a  large  quantity  of  water  can  be  brought  in  use 
to  do  great  execution. 

The  perpendicular  pitch  of  this  vast  body  of 
water  is  144  feet— add  to  this  50  feet  above 
and  70  feet  below,  and  we  find  that  the  river 
descends  in  8  miles  and  a  half,  261  feet.  Some 
who  have  never  seen  this  river,  suppose  it  to  be 
much  less  than  it  is,  while  others  suppose  it  to 
be  larger.  Indeed  it  is  hard  for  any  one  to  judge 
with  propriety,  that  has  seen  it,  as  there  are  but 
8  milas  in  the  whole  length  of  the  river,  be- 
tween  the  two  lakes  where  any  current  can  be 
seeni  and  that  is  very  rapid. 

For  the  contemplation  of  the  curious,  who 
may  perliaps  never  see  these  falls,  I  have  made 
the  following  calculation,  from  which  they  may 
form  some  tolerably  correct  idea  of  the  quantity 
of  water  that  falls  over  this  cataract. 
^  Say  that  each  of  the  spaces  over  which  the 
water  pitches,  is  4vyO  yards  wide,  or  1200  feet. 
The  most  shallow  one  of  these,  or  that  on  the 
U.  S.  side,  is  3  feet  deep,  on  the  verge  of  the 
rock  over  which  it  falls.    Now  if  we  multiply 

G2 


?, 


.^rr'f 


mn 


»S 


SSn^B 


i'fl 

11 

F| 

^■1 

i| 

1 

1 

■'.■p.-.*-. 


78 


Its  depth  (ci  ieet)  into  its  width,  (1200  feet)  v  * 
have  3600  cubic  or  solid  feet  of  water  on  the 
verge  of  the  precipice.  As  there  are  62  pounds 
avoirdupois  in  a  cubic  or  solid  foot  of  water> 
(and  a  little  more,  which  we  will  leave  out  to 
avoid  fr  ictions)  so  if  we  multiply  62  (the  pounds 
in  a  square  foot  of  water)  into  3600  (the  num* 
ber  of  fc  et  of  water  on  the  verge)  we  have 
228,200  ^Nounds  of  water  on  the  vergefof  the  pre- 
cipice. But  when  we  consider  the  laws  of  gravi« 
ry  respecting  spouting  fluids  and  falling  bodies, 
we  shall  fivid  that  the  water  of  this  cataract  re- 
ceives a  vast  additional  weight  by  the  time  it 
comes  to  the  lowest  point  of  fall.  In  order, 
therefore,  to  find  this  additional  weight,  we 
must  note  the  following  things  : — 

'•  Heavy  bodies  near  the  surface  of  the  earth, 
fall  1  foot  the  first  quarter  of  a  second,  3  feet 
the  second,  5  feet  the  third,  and  7  feet  in  the 
fourth  quarter;  that  is,  16  feet  in  the  first  se- 
cond. Let  go  three  bullets  together-^stop  the 
first  at  one  second,  and  it  will  have  fallen  )6 
feet ;  stop  the  next  at  ^e  end  of  the  second  se- 
cond, and  it  will  have  fallen  (2  x  2  =  4)  4  times 
16,  or  64  feet;  and  stop  the  last  at  the  end  of 
^he  third  second,  and  the  distance  fallen  will  be 
(3  X  3  ==  9)  9  times  16  or  144  feet,  and  so  on. 
Now  the  momentum,  or  force  with  which  a  fal- 
ling body  strikes,  is  equal  to  its  weight  multi- 
plied by  its  velocity,"  and  in  order  to  find  which 
we  must  **  multiply  the  perpendicular  space  fal- 


r 


'-WSfi 


•i- 


78 


et)  *  V 
)n  the 
)ound8 
water» 
out  to 
)ounds 
nuin* 
have 
le  pre- 
gravi- 
)odie8, 
act  re- 
ime  it 
order, 
t,  we 

earth| 
3  feet 
In  the 
irst  se- 
op  the 
len  16 
nd  se- 
times 
mdof 
vill  be 
soon. 
I  a  fai- 
tnulti* 
^hich 
;e  fal- 


len through  by  64,  and  the  square  root  of  the 
product  is  the  velocity  required."  See  Pike's 
Arithmetic i  page  362—5. 

From  calculation,  we  find  that  the  water  of 
this  cataract  is  3  seconds  descending  the  144 
feet  and  that  the  velocity  acquired  in  that  time 
and  distance  to  be  96,  which  if  we  multiply  in- 
to 223,200,  the  number  of  pounds  of  water  on 
the  top  of  the  rock,  we  find  that  21,427,200  is 
the  weight  thereof  at  its  lowest  point  of  fall :  this 
IS  the  weight  of  the  water  of  the  smallest  part 
of  the  cataract,  or  that  on  the  United  States  side. 
The  other  part  of  the  falls  as  has  been  noted, 
is  at  least  6  times  as  large,  that  is  6  times  the 
quantity  of  water  flows  over  it.  Now  if  we  mul- 
tiply the  above  sum  (2 1,427,200)  by  6,  we  shall 
have  the  enormous  sum  of  128,563,200  pounds 
of  water,  which  falls*  on  the  bed  of  the  river  be- 
low. 

No  wonder  then  that  the  solid  rock  and  db- 
tant  surface  bend  beneath  the  mighty  pressure, 
and  that  the  sound  is  often  heard  at  the  dis- 
tance of  20,  and  sometimes  60  miles.  Howe- 
ver, it  must  be  here  noticed  that  falling  bodies 
meet  with  resist^ce  from  the  air  through  which 
they  pass,  which  is  always  in  proportion  to  the 
distance  fallen,  the  velocity  of  the  motion  and 
dimensions  of  their  surfaces;  or  in  other  words, 
the  water  of  this  cataract  is  considerably  resist- 
ed by  the  air  through  which  it  falls,  from  which 


^ 


H 


\ .:. 


**s 


80 


I    '■ 


circumstance  it  appears  that  tiiere  ought  to  be 
some  reduction  from  its  weight  or  sinking  force, 
at  its  lowest  point  of  fall :  yet  when  we  observe 
that  fluids  act  by  pressure  and  gravity  bc^h,  and 
that  every  part  of  this  cataract  is  of  some  depth, 
and  about  60  yards  is  18  feet  deep,  where  the 
pressure  is  great,  of  course  we  may  fairly  calcu- 
late that  the  pressure  outbalances  the  resistance. 
But  as  fluids  are  non-elastic,  they  do  not  pro- 
duce but  half  the  effect  of  perfect  elastic  bodies. 
Were  the  water  of  this  cataract  a  perfect  elas- 
tic body  and  fell  on  a  perfect  elastic  base,  the 
striking  force  and  sound  would  be  just  4  times 
as  great  as  it  now  is.  Several  writers  who  have 
wrote  a  description  of  this  cataract  and  the  ad- 
jacent parts,  have  stated  that  the  falls  were 
once  down  at  the  landing  on  the  north  side  of 
the  slope  or  mountain  already  noted.  And 
^'{that  from  the  great  length  of  time,  quan- 
tity of  water,  and  distance  from  which  it  fell,  the 
solid  rock  is  wore  away  for  7  miles  up  the 
stream,  to  where  it  is  now."  To  me  it  is  plain 
that  neither  of  these  assertions  are  true.  Who- 
ever will  take  the  pains  to  view  the  chasm  from 
the  beginning  of  the  slope  through  which  the 
water  now  flo  ws  up  to  the  falls,  must  be  convinced 
of  the  mistake,  for  the  banks  are  not  solid  rock, 
but  are  in  some  places  sand^  in  others  sand  and 
clay,  and  in  others  solid  rock,  as  also  trees,  bush- 
es, loose  rocks  and  stones,  but  in  very  few  pla- 


'■*,, 


1 1  ■' 


<•  %. 


;  to  be 
force, 
bserve 
h,  and 
depth, 
re  the 
calcu- 
tance. 
at  pro- 
bodies. 
zt  elas- 
e,  the 
times 
a  have 
he  ad- 
?  were 
side  of 
And 
quan- 
ell,  the 
up  the 
3  plain 
Who« 
1  from 
;h  the 
Winced 
rock, 
id  and 
» bush- 
wpla- 


.• .       ■      -        '  # 

81 

ces  are  banks  of  solid  rock  on  both  sides."^  That 
th^  cataract  was  ever  down  at  the  north  side 
of  the  slope,  is  a  conjecture  to  me  very  impro- 
bs^ble,  for  if  it  was  ever  there,  it  must  have  fal- 
len from  those  Hat  and  horizontal  rocks  already 
named,  and  which  are  near  the  surface  of  the 
ground.  The  surface  of  the  ground,  or  top  of 
the  slope,  where  the  falls  are  supposed  once  to 
have  been,  is  8  feet  higher  than  the  still  water 
above  the  rapids  already  hotedy  according  to 
measurment,  and  but  1  foot  lower  than  the 
lower  end  of  lake  Erie. 
T  Now  as  there  is  a  considerable  hollow  on 
the  United  States  side,  about  halfway  between 
the  falls  and  the  top  of  the  mountain,  it  is/evi- 
dent the  w^iple  river  would  have  found  its  way 
into  Lake  Ontario  through  this  hollow,  rather 
th^n  rise  at  least  30  fe^t  to  flow  over  the  top 
of  the  mountain  or  slopei^ 

From  the  falls,  the  ground  is  level  in  every 
direction,  and  on  the  Canada  side,  fields  are 
cultivated  to  the  vei^e  of  the  bank  in  some 
places.  The  cataract  may  be  seen  from  some 
directions,  at  the  distance  of  4  miles.    A  little 

*  General  Lincoln,  wko  viewed  the  banks  of  this  river 
in  the  year  1 7d4,  says, "  on  a  careful  examination  of  the 
banks  of  the  river  it  was  evident  that  there  was  no  good 
foundation  for  this  (the  above)  opinion.*'  See  a  note  in 
Morse's  Gazetteer,  printed  in  Boston,  in  1707,  under  the 
word  Niagara. 


.^' 


'SS'      '%    tm 


**■ 


w: 


'  ?; ' 


'^# 


-^x-",. 


■mmmm0i^m0m 


« 


^*  ^' 


t. 


82 


i# 


i^ 
Ri' 


w- 


h  -t, 


abave  tiiese  falls  there  is  a  spring  emitting  a  gas, 
or  an  inflamtnable  air,  which  if  confined  in  a 
pipe  or  tube,  and  fire  set  to  it,  will  burn.  .. 

It  is  curious  to  see  all  the  trees  psar  this  cat* 
aract  cut  on  the  bark  for  a  considerable  dis- 
tance up,  all  over  with  the  initials  or  first  letters 
of  person's  names,  with  the  year  in  which  they 
were  cut :  some  of  these  dates  are,  of  consider- 
able age ;  I  discovered  2  that  had  been  made 
207  years,  or  in  1606,  which  was  but  2  years 
before  the  province  was  settled  by  the  French, 
though  it  was  discovered  by  the  English  316 
years  ago,  or  in  the  year  1497.  There  is  a  lad- 
der provided  144  feet  long,  to  go  down  int« 
the  chasm,  though  but  few  will  venture.* 

The  Massaugus  nation  of  Indians  used  to  sac- 
rifice to  this  cataract,  before  they  were  visited 
by  the  Roman  Catholic  Priests. 

About  2  years  ago,  some  of  the  island  alrea^ 
dy  named  fell  to  the  bottom  with  a  great  sound. 

rilmarks  relative  to  the  situation  of  the  peo- 
ple OF  CANADA,  RESPECTING  THE  WAR  :  AND  A 
CONCISE  HISTORV  OF  ITS  PROGRESS  TO  THE  PRES- 
ENT DATE.  <^ 

In  writing  upon  this  subject,  I  feel  as  if  I 
was  treading  upon  delicate  ground.    Although 

*  *  I  am  told  Ihis^ ladder  was  fixed  here  by  the  orders 
and  at  the  expeace  of  a  lady  from  Boston;  who  after 
it  was  finished  was  the  first  that  ventured  down.  1  am 
sorrv  that  1  cannot  record  her  name. 


:   « 


:a: 


■^1:: 


m 


a  gas, 

is  cat- 
dis- 
etters 
I  they 
sider- 
made 
years 
ench, 
I  316 
a  lad- 
n  int# 

;o  sac- 

/isitcd 

alrea^ 
ound, 

[E  PEOf 

AND  A 

PRES- 

isif  I 
lough 

orders 

0  after 

1  am 


I  feel  as  much  neutrality  in  the  contest  as  per- 
haps it  is  possible  for  any  one  to  feel,  except 
that  I  have  one  wish  which  is  that  of  peace. 
Yet,  no  doubt,  some  of  my  readers  will  find,  or 
think  they  find  some  partiality  in  my  remarks 
on  the  subject. 

However,  I  intend  to  relate  nothing  but  the 
truth,  the  general  knowledge  of  which,  I  hope 
will  be  beneficial, 

I  have  already  noted  that  6  out  of  10  of  the 
Inhabitants,  were  natives  of  the  United  States, 
or  their  children  born  in  Canada.  These  peo- 
ple did  not  move  to  the  province  because  they 
preferred  the  government  of  Great-Britian  to 
that  of  the  Cnited  States,  but  in  order  to  ob- 
tain land  upo«  easy  terms,  for  it  must  be  re. 
membered,  that  ^U  the  land  of  Canada  now  in- 
habited, was  given  to  the  people  by  the  king 
who  bought  it  of  the  Indians.* 

It  must  here  be  mentioned  also,  that  in  order 
to  obtain  this  gift,  they  were  under  rl  e  neces- 
sity of  taking  the  oath  of  allegianc?  to  as  Ma- 
jesty, the  King. 

While  the  Congress  of  the  Ur-ited  St-^tes, 
were  in  debate,  relative  io  the  uLciaiatioa  of 

*  At  present  there  is  a  small  consideration  required^ 
and  should  this  land  be  sold  at  any  time  to  any  ptriv  .. 
such  person  must  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  witiijji  1 
year,  or  the  land  falls  back  to  the  king. 


m 


'# 


,;f 


5  ;' 
i   y      - 

i  k  i 


m 


84 


war  against  England,  and  all  her  territories 
and  dependenciesi  the  parliament  of  Canada 
passed  a  law  providing  for  the  raising  and 
training  I  third  of  the  militia  of  the  province, 
between  the  age  of  18  and  45,  called  flank 
companies.  And  at  the  same  time  passed  an 
act  for  the  formation  of  a  peculiar  kind  of  an 
oath  of  allegiance,  to  be  administered  to  the 
militia,  at  the  discretion  of  the  Governor. 

This  oath  was  the  subject  of  great  complaint, 
and  many  refused  to  take  if,  insomuch,  that 
■  the  governor  thought  proper  to  lay  it  by. 

At  this  session,  there  was  an  attempt  made  to 
pass  an  act  to  suspend  for  18  months,  the  habeas 
corpus  act,  and  thereby  to  deprive  the  people  of 
the  process  of  trial  by  court  and  jury  in  cer- 
tain cases.  However,  it  did  not  pass  by  some 
odds. — Had  this  act  passed,  there  is  no  doubt 
but  that  a  rebellion  would  have  taken  place. 

The  act  that  was  passed  for  the  organiza- 
tion of  a  part  of  the  militia,  was  carried  into 
effect  without  any  opposition,  as  but  few  ex- 
pected that  the  declaration  of  war  would  take 
place;  indeed,  but  few  knew  that  such  ap  act 
was  under  consideration ;  the  invasion  of  Can- 
ada was  contemplated  but  by  few. 

When  war  was  declared  against  England 
which  was  the  18th  of  June,  Mr.  Foster,Minister 
from  the  court  of  Great  Britian,  to  the  United 


m 


itories 
anada 
and 
vince, 
flank 
edan 
of  an 
0  the 

plaint, 
that 

ade  to 
labeas 

pie  of 
n  cer- 

some 
doubt 
ace.  ^ 
aniza- 
d  into 
w  ex- 
i  take 
ip  act 

Can- 
gland 
nister 
nited 


85 

States,  s^ent  an  express  to  Canada  fro%  Wash- 
ington,  with  great  s       V 

When  the  goveri  at  were  informed  of  the 
event,  the  flank  companies  were  ordered  to 
Fort  George,  and  other  places  on  the  lines, 
with  great  expedition. 

They  were  told  that  they  must  go  to  such 
places  to  get  their  muskets,  after  which  they 
might  return.  This  order  they  obeyed  with 
cheerfulness,  not  knowing  that  war  was  de- 
clared, or  that  they  should  be  detained,  which 
however  was  the  case. 

Had  they  known  of  the  declaration  of  war, 
and  that  they  were  to  be  detained  for  that  pur- 
pose, I  am  of  opinion  that  but  few  would  have 
complied  with  the  orders,  though  most  of  them 
were  under  obligation  so  to  do,  having  taken 
an  oath  to  that  effect.* 

At  the  same  time  the  regular  soldiers  were  ^ 
marched  from  York  to  Fort  George.  All  the 
Indian  warriors  on  Grand  River  were  called  < 
for,  and  they  went  down  immediately, — but 
soon  returned.  After  this  the  chiefs  made  an 
agreement  with  the  governor,  and  were  to 
have  good  wages  to  engage  in  the  war,  after 
which  they  returned  again. 

*  Upan  the  declaration  of  war,  the  governor  issued  a 
proclamation,  making  it  treason  for  any  one  to  cross 
the  line.  Had  not  this  been  done,  one  half  of  the  peo- 
ple would  have  left  the  province, 

H 


^'i 


^[i 


11 


;*. 


•"^t,r,  ."-' 


86 


In  a  little  time  after  this  the  flank  companies 
raised  in  dliferent  parts  of  the  province  some 
distance  from  Eort  George,  were  called  to  it  ; 
and  at  the  same  time  Gen.  Hull  invaded  the 
province  at  Sandwich,  nearly  300  miles  wesC 
of  Fort  George.  I  then  lived  on  the  main 
road  that  leads  to  it,  on  which  all  the  soldiers 

«: passed,  and  conversed  with  some  hundreds  of 
them,  respecting  their  feelings  and  views,  and 
found  that  nearly  all  of  them  were  of  the  same 
minil,  and  that  was,  if  Hull  came  down  to  Fort 
George,  (which  was  the  universal  expectation) 
and  they  were  ordered  to  march  against  him, 
they  would  not  obey.     Such  was  their  dread 

^of  '^m-i  and  partiality  to  the  United  States' 
goveruient.  But  not  a  man  would  have  joined 
him  and  fought  against  the  king,  as  was  the 

^opinion.  But  the  event  was,  Hull  did  not  come^ 
but  continued  at  Sandwich,  and  sent  a  procla- 
mation among  the  people,  telling  them  he  was 
come  to  deliver  them  from  tyranny,  and  that 
he  was  able  to  accomplish  the  task ;  but,  at  the 
same  time,  he  invited  them  to  join  him,  like 
true  rebels  against  their  king  and  oaths,  or  else 
stay  at  home  and  mind  their  own  work;  but  if 
any  should  come  agiinsi  hbn,  and  be  found 
fighting  by  the  side  of  an  Indian,  they  should 
be  murdered  without  mercy.  I  believe  almost 
every  one  that  saw  or  heard  of  this  proclama< 

:  tion,  treated  its  contents  with  contempt.    Peo- 


■*^ 


t 


\  * 


„    t_    ».., 


*.w- 


87 


pie  are  hardly  ever  so  willing  to  do  wrong  from 
the  advice  of  others,  as  of  their  own  accord. 

Now  to  take  up  arms  against  their  king, 
whom  they  had  sworn  to  protect,  was  too  much. 
They  were  offended  at  any  man,  who  could 
think  them  capable  of  such  conduct;  and  as  to 
assisting  Hull  in  freeing  them  from  tyranny,  it 
was  a  mere  notion — for  if  they  had  been  un- 
der any,  they  could  at  any  time  have  crossed 
the  line  to  the  United  States.  But  they  wer^* 
told  that  they  might  stay  at  home  and  mind 
their  business ; — this  proposal  they  w^ould  wil- 
lingly have  acceded  to,  for  they  dreaded  the 
war  with  their  whole  souls.  Some  of  them  in- 
deed took  the  friendly  advice,  for  which  they 
were  sharply  rebuked  by  their  rulers,  and  in 
consequence  of  this  some  fled  to  the  wilderness, 
and  some  remain  there  until  this  day  for  aughr 
I  knaw  ;*  but  all  of  them  were  much  exaspera- 
ted against  Hull,  for  threatening  not  to  give 
any  one  quarters,  who  should  be  found  fighting 
by  the  side  of  an  Indian. 

They  were  well  assured  that  Hull  knew  ev- 
ery man  in  Canada  to  be  under  the  control  of 
the  government,  and  that  they  were  obliged  to 
bear  arms,  and  at  least  to  march  where  they 


■r4: 


* 


"  *  A  vQty  few  fled  to  HuUjbut  when  he  gave  them  up 
they  were  not  hurt,  but  put  in  jail.  It  has  beeji  report- 
•"(i  that  they  were  hanged ;  but  this  is  without  foundation.- 


y^~>h^ 


"W 


88 


s;- 


*^    ' 


were  ordered,  and  that  they  could  not  prevent 
the  Indians  from  marcl)iing  with  them.  They 
also  knew  that  they  must  commence  an  engage- 
ment, should  they  be  brought  in  sight  of  Huirs 
army ;  but  in  the  confusion  of  a  battle,  should 
one  take  place,  many  hoped  to  make  their  es- 
cape  to  Hull.  However,  after  this  dreadful  de^ 
claration,  no  one  had  any  such  Vtew»  believing 
if  they  should  leave  the  British  army,  from 
among  the  Indians,  and  go  to  Hull,  that  he 
would  kill  them  according  to  his  promise.  This 
operated  very  much  in  favor  of  the  British 
cause. 

It  was  generally  thought  in  Canadaf  that  if 
Hull  had  marched  with  haste  from  Sandwich  to 
fort  George,  the  province  would  then  have  been 
conquered  without  the  loss  of  a  man;  for  at 
that  time  the  British  would  not  have  been  able 
to  bring  more  than  1200  men  to  oppose  bim» 
before  he  could  have  reached  the  Niagara  riv- 
er, and  co.operated  with  the  army  on  the  east 
side,  who  then  could  have  come  over  with  safe- 
ty, and  so  there  would  been  an  end  of  the  un- 
happy war  perhaps. 

But,  contrary  to  all  expectation,  Hull  re- 
mained at  Sandwich,  till  General  Brock  issued 
his  proclamation  to  the  people,  telling  them  that 
Hull  was  sent  by  Madison  to  conquer  the  prov- 
ince for  Bonaparte,  and  it  they  did  not  repel 
him  they  would  be  sent  to  France.    This  was 


■*\ 


89 


a  suocessfol  step  towards  a  preparation  to  op< 
pose  Hull.  Brock  then  beat  up  for  volunteers  at 
Fort  George,  to  go  with  hitn  and  oppose  the  inva- 
der,  promising  all  who  would  engage  with  hitn  to 
fare  the  same  with  himself,  and  have  200  acres 
of  land. — About  300  turned  out,  and  took  wa- 
ter to  go  by  the  way  of  Lake  Erie*  At  the 
same  time  he  sent  2  pieces  of  flying  artillery,  and 
a  few  regulars  by  land.  He  had  also  ordered 
some  part  of  the  militia  from  the  district  of  Lon« 
don  about  100  miles  from  Sandwich,  to  march 
there.  This  many  refused  to  do  of  their  own 
accord,  and  others  were  persuaded  so  to  refuse 
by  a  Mr.  Culver,  a  Mr.  Beamer,  and  one  more 
who  rode  among  the  people  for  6  days,  telling 
them  to  stand  back.  However,  they  were  ap- 
prehended,  and  the  n.ost  of  the  people  became 
obedient.  After  this  they  had  their  choice 
to  go  or  stay,  and  some  went.  The  result  of 
this  expedition  is  sufficiently  public,  and  need 
not  be  inserted  here.  However,  it  may  here 
be  remarked,  that  the  capture  of  Hull  and  his 
army  with  the  surrender  of  the  fort  of  De- 
troit,  and  all  the  Michigan  Territory,  were 
events  wh  eti  tha  people  of  Canada  could  scarce- 
ly believe,  even  after  they  were  known  to  be 
true.  Indeed  when  I  saw  the  officers  and  sol- 
diers returning  to  Fort  George,  with  the  spoils 
of  my  countrymen,  I  could  scarcely  believe 
my  own  eyes.    The  most  of  the  people  in  Can- 

H2 


<«;l 


<-\ 


*"  "  ii 


% 


»o 


kU  ^■\ 


It 


ada  think  that  Hull  was  bribed  by  the  British 
to  give  up  the  fort. 

After  this  event,  the  people  of  Canada  became 
fearful  of  disobeying  the  gQyernment;  some  that 
had  fled  to  the  wilderness  returned  home ;  a^id  the 
friends  of  the  United  States  were  discouraged* 
and  those  of  the  king  encouraged. 

Great  preparations  were  naw  made — the  mi- 
litia were  trained  every  week,  and  a  number 
more  caUed  out ;  and  some  hundreds  of  regu- 
lars came  frori^  the  lower  province.    The  army 
now  became  respectable,  and  a  dread  fell  on 
those  who  had  opposed  the  government.    The 
people  now  saw  that  it  was  as  much  as  their 
property  and  lives  were  worth  to  disobey  or- 
ders, and  now  what  they  had  been  compelled 
to  do,  after  a  little  while  they  did  from  choice. 
^  Things  remained  in  this  situation  till  August* 
when  thi^  pariii^ment  met  for  a  short  session, 
and  put  all  the  public  money  into  the  hands  of 
the  governori  and  also  passed  an  act,  making 
it  treason  for  any  person,  man  or  woman,  to 
speak  against  the  administration,  or  to  refuse 
going,  or  persuading  any  of  his  majesty's  sub- 
jects from  going  to  war;  and  to  subject  a  per- 
son to  a  fine  of  SO  dollars  who  did  not  denounce 
a  deserter.    They  strove  hard  also  to  pass  an 
act  to  establish  the  martial  law,  but  the  bill  was 
violently  opposed  by  the  friends  of  the  people, 
particularly  by  J.  Wilcpcks,  an  Irisij^man.    The 


■',■*.-'".*;-.• 


¥ 


v>. 


_* 


91 


British 

}ecame 
nr  that 
Mid  the 
iraged, 

the  mi- 
mmber 
f  regu- 
earmy 
fell  on 
The 
IS  their 
t)ey  or- 
npelled 
ehoiee. 

^UgU8t» 

session, 
Ands  of 
naking 
laut  to 
>  refuse 
r*s  sub- 
t  a  per- 
nounce 
pass  an 
bill  was 
people, 
.    The 


tn  embers  of  parliament  published  an  address  to 
the  people,  in  which  they  all  promised  to  assist  in 
the  war,  both  with  their  counsel  and  arms ;  and 
when  the  house  dissolved,  the  most  of  them  took 
the  field.^ 

In  the  course  of  the  summer,  Brock,  who 
was  indeed  a  very  fine  man,  had  rendered  him- 
self very  dear  to  all  the  soldiers  at  fort  George, 
and  to  the  people  in  general. 
r   In  this  situation  things  rem    ned,  and  the  ar- 
my increased,  till  the  invasion     f  the  province 
at  Queienston,  an  account  ot    which  has  been 
laid  before  the  public.   However,  it  may  not  be 
itmiss  to  m^e  a  few  remarks  on  the  subject. 
4    Early  in  the  morning  of  the  13th  of  Ott, 
IB12,  some  Americans  landed  on  the  bank  at 
Uueenston,  unobserved ;  but  were  soon  disco- 
vered, and  the  alarm  given,  at  which  time  they 
retreated  unseen  (as  it  was  yet  dark)  through 
the  village  and  to  Black  Swamp,  4  miles  back.t 
^    At  the  same  time  the  Americans  on  the  Uni- 
ted States  side  opened  their  cannon  to  the  Brit- 
ish shore  to  keep  them  from  coming  down  to 
the  bea^h  to  oppose  the  invaders  then  crossing 
.with  boats.    At  the  same  time  the  cannon  from 
two  batteries  were  levelled  against  them  from 

♦  If  the  members  of  Congress  would   act  Aus,  it 
,  would  make  a  great  alteration  in  the  war. 

f  The  most  of  these  came  the  next  day,  and  gave 
themselves  up  to  the  British. 


ty. 


'fv»i. 


i 


m 


ysfe 


^^-v. 


j^.r. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


// 


^  .5^: 


A 


% 


11.25 


|2j8     |25 
■^  ^    12.2 


I 


111 

u 


140 


Ml 

W4 


2.0 


8 


U    116 


Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14SS0 

(716)  872-4503 


l\ 


iV 


a>' 


<^ 


rv 


6^ 


? 


^  if' 


% 


.\ 


5. 


6^ 


92 


the  British  side,^  beside-Ae  fire  from  the  small 
arms  af  four  hundl^  soldiers  Which  were  sta* 
tiQ^ed  there  at  that  tipiel  Yet  ttefoiighali  this 
opposition  the  Wave  Ameilpans  effected  a  fottd- 
ingf  droy0  the  British  ha^^^^li^ 
of  their  batteries  and  canii^f  Which 
were  spiked. 

They  refllained  in  peace  a  litt|e 
Brock  cani^,  rallied  aboui  tiireelitlii 
diars,  inciudiiig  Indians,  andpttiadfs  lO^ati^ttipt 
to  retakea  battefy  on  the  side  bflheUtipd,  close 
by  Qneexiston)  and  w%i  kUledi^ii^a  enter- 
ing his  body";  his  aid  iib^tep^iM^  i^  Hie  same 
timet  whiH  on  his  hprse  en^itiraiipii^  the  pel^ 
p}e^  The  iV||^i^  were  masters  c^iiie  gromiff 
after  that  io^fotur  hours,  !b  whkir  tiaie  many 
might  have  labd^/thoughli^afsniitil^ 

Expresses  now  w^nt  down  to  l^brt  George, 
8  miles,  and  the  sound  was  Oh  the  Joat^iuitTy 
boys,  or  else  onr  deiir  general  will  be  kHled't 
and  Others  ciried  he  is^i^lii^ded,  he  i»-l^^i^^^ 
edf,  hurry,  hurry,  sav^  out^vefllor.'^  i^ 
iounds^led  every  bosom  "With  mai^dtl  fire.  ^  A 
^remfoit:ement  of  1900  soMi^r^  and  6  pieces  of 
"iflying  artillery  were  soon  in  marching  orders, 
under  Gen.  Sheaffe  j  they  ascended  the  slope 
tme  miie  and  a  half  west  of  the  American  ar- 
my, which  was  then  on  the  heights  above 
Queenston.^  ?  When  they  omie  in  sight,  they  all 
raised  the  Indian  war  whoop,  let  loose  the  can> 


' 


1 


»i 


-^ 


^ 

"!?* 


d  small 
»r6  ata-^ 
ttttthtil^ 

961 


t>. 


Mien 


^r  ciose 

s  same 
le  pei|^^ 

reor|ej 


)kch 
kn-%1  A 
^eefs  of 
)rders, 
i  slope 
an  ar- 
abo^e 
ley  all 
e  can* 


9» 


non,  and  ruahed  op  \vith  ^eat  impetuosity.  The 
Americans  86emi^dpani<^  struck,  did  not  form 
or  fig^t  tp  anjr  advantage,  bat  retreated  a  sinaH 
Stance,  JbnMbe  ij^ul  c^irni^  v^ns  in  (he  way : 
tbi^]^  siSMrrenderedf  pSf  ^ua^  given,  yet 

the  Indiana  who  wer|  on  the  left  wing,  contin- 
uediQ  kill  with  their  tomahawks,  which  so  ex- 
aq^iate^:|preiL  SheaOe,  tbiu  he  threw  off  his 
h9^lui^  ||^(^  J^  swonl  in  4ie  groniul  up  to  the 
han^^anjd  declared,  that  if  even^man  did  not 
ejcert  i^^iis^lf^ici^  prevent  the  Indians  fi;0m  kil- 
ling tbf  ^niilriams^  afterjthey  ha^ 
h^  would  g^vi^  up  the  coinmand  and  go  home. 
The  milStk  i|^d,i:^gi^^^  tbeui^^  wiib'mudi  adb, 
^opjj^i  I^JndiaJ^  one  can 

reflect  Qi^ll^as  s6e|e  witiftout^i%  his  heart 
bleed,4tt?ip  vie^^bum^iinfl^ 

3^]^fn  J  bj^ard  tj^e  caiinqp  In  tl^e  morniiifff  I 
too^xaj  horse  jind  rocle  down,  and  bn  Ibe  rdiid 
Diet  i  npmt^er  of  the  Ma^aikus  fisdians  who 
had  made  their  escajpe ;  these  udians  are  a  ve- 
1^  jcowardl^  tribe. 

'iVfter  this  the  British  contemplated  another 
invasion  immediately,  and  therefore  called  all 
the  pilitia,  from  16  to  60,  froni  the  river  Credit 
round  the  head  pf  Qntarb  to  the  west  side  of 

*  The  British  published  the  number  knied  bn  their  side 
lo  be  30,  but  the  true  number  wsis  100 ;  chiefly  Indians 
and  regulars*  The  number  on  the  American  side  was 
about  260.      „    . 


^t 


(i 


' 


I 


lie 


the  Grand  River,  and  between  the  two  lakes, 
as  also  more  than  one  half  fVom  the  London  and 
Home  districts  to  Fort  George,  and  other  sta« 
tions  on  the  Niagara  river  to  Fort  Erie,  which 
made  an  army  of  8000  sotdiers.  This  order  was 
resisted  with  considerable  spirit,  yet  it  was  too 
late,  for  not  only  the  officers  of  the  army*  and 
the  Indians  were  engaged  to  compel oBedioiice, 
but  all  the  pilitia  that  had  been  in  the  iiiBf vice ; 
they  thought  it  hard  and  unreasoi^able  that  they 
must  bear  all  the  burden  and  dangers  of  the 
war,  therefore  a  number  of  them  were  zealous* 
ly  engaged  to  bring  forward  the  disobedient, 
although  their  neighbors  and  relations.  An 
example  of  this  sort  may- be  named  r  about  12^ 
days  after  the  battle,  a  Col.  Craham,  on  Yonge- 
street,  ordered  his  regiment  to  meet,  in  order 
to  draft  a  number  to  send  to  fort  George :  how- 
ever, about  40  did  not  appear,  but  went  out  into 
Whitechurch  township,  nearly  a  wilderness, 
and  there  joined  about  30  more,  who  had  fled 
from  different  places.  When  the  regiment  met, 
there  were  present  some  who  had  liberty  of  ab-  . 
sence  a  few  days  from  fort  Get)rge,  these  with 
others  volunteered  their  services  to  Gol.  Gra- 
ham, to  the  number  of  160,  to  go  aiid  fetch 
them  in,  to  which  the  Colonel  agreed,  but  or- 

^  At  thii  time,  many  a  boy  thoaght  he  gr«w  a  migh- 
ty man  in  a  few  days.  ''"  ^' 

-,•.■  I. .  ',-( -  -    -  ,         ♦ 


m 


\V-f' 


lakes, 
>nand 
er  sta« 
which 
er  was 
as  too 
^*ahd 

rvice ; 

It  they 

>f  the 

^alous* 

dient, 

.     An 

}Ut  12^ 

'^onge- 

order 

how*^ 

It  into 

rnesg, 

Ifled 

tmeti 

of  ab« 

with 

Gra- 

fetch 

ut  or- 

miglh 


# 


95 


»%- 


dered  them  to  take  no  arms ;  but  when  they 
found  they  must  not  take  arms,  they  would  not 
go.  At  the  first  of  December  they  had  increas- 
ed to  about  SOD:  'about  which  time,  as  I  was  on 
my  way  to  Kingston  to  obtain  a  passport  to 
leave  this  province,  I  saw  about  50  of  them 
near  Sniitb's  creek,  in  Newcastle  district,  on 
the  tnaili  road,  with  fife  and  drum,  beating  for 
vohinfeers,  crying  huzza  for  Madison. 

None  of  the  people  in  this  district  bore  arms 
at  that  time^  except  12  at  Presquile  harbor. 
TTiey  were  universally  in  favour  of  the  United 
States,  and  if  ever  another  army  is  landed  in  Can- 
ada^ this  would  be  the  best  place,  which  would 
be  100  miles  from  any  British  forice,  and  before 
one  could  march  there,  man/ r  of  the  Canada 
militia  would  desert,  especially  if  the  American 
army  was  large,  say  50,000.  But  whenever 
the  Americans  attempt  to  land  where  there  is 
an  army,  that  army  will  fight  till  they  are  near- 
ly all  destroyed,  for  they  dare  not  rebel,  not 
having  now  any  faith  in  any  offers  of  protec- 
tion in  a  rebellion,  as  they  have  been  deceived. 
Indeed  many  of  the  militia  are  considerably 
exasperated  against  the  invaders,  for  they  thii^ 
that  U  is  hard  that  they  should  feel  the  misery 
of  Yi9iX  who  have  no  agency  in  the  councils  of 
England,  and  know  that  the  United  States  go- 
vernment cannot  force  any  man  over  the  line, 
•of  course  those  that  come,  they  view  as  coming 


f» 


-^' 


-  Hf 


■  i 


^ 


in 


•4>A 


."     * 


96 


:'r 


of  their  own  choice^  and  being  as  void  of  justice 
and  humanity,  and  therefore  deserve  to  be  kil« 
led  for  their  intrusion. 

In  August,  the  inhabitfuitg  were  called  toge- 
ther, in  order  that  all  who  had  not  taken  the 
oath  of  allegiance  might  take  it  without  ^recep- 
tion.   However,  some  refused,  sOQie  were  put 

*  in  cells,  and  others  were  not  dealt  so  l^ard  with. 
Many  took  the  oath  rather  than  puffer  thus. 
,  Some  time  in  the  month  of  November,  the 
Americans  became  masters  of  lake  Ontario, 
which  was  very  grievous  to  the  British.  About 
the  same  time,  the  governor  issued  a  prockma- 

.  tion  ordering  all  the  citizens  of  the  Uniteid 
States,  residii^g^nihe  province  of  Upper  Cana- 

-_  dat  who  had  refused  to*  take  the  oath  of  alle- 
giance, to  leave  the  province  by  applying  at 
certain  boards  of  inspection  appointed  to  exam- 
ine into  the  claims  of  those  who  asked  that  pri- 
vilege ;  and  all  who  did  not  so  receive  passports, 
and  leave  the  province  by  the  first  of  January, 
1813,  and  stiU  refused  to  take  the  oath  of  alle- 
giance, should  be  considered  as  alien  enemies 
and  spies,  and  be  dealt  with  accordingly.   This 

^proclamation  was  of  short  duration  and  but  lit- 

.  tie  circulated  i  of  course,  but  few  received  the 
benefit  which  they  ought  to  have  had,  according 
to  Jay's  treaty. 

The  victories  that  the  Britbh  obtained  over 
Hull  at  Detroit,  and  Van  Rensselaer  at  Queens- 


justice 
bekil- 

dtpge- 

^3ccep- 
ere  put 
rdwUh. 
lius. 
er,  the 
>ntano9  ^ 
About 
>ckma- 
United 
rCana- 
f  alle- 
ingat 
exam* 
at  pri- 
sports, 
nuary, 
)f  alle- 
nemies 

This 
but  lit- 
red  the 
ording 

d  over* 
ueens- 


I 


97 


ton,  were  very  encouraging  to  the  difl'erent 
tribes  of  Indians  to  engage  with  them  in  the 
war.  At  the  commencement  of  the  contest,  the 
most  of  the  Indians  refused  to  take  any  part  in 
the  war,  alleging  that  the  Americans  were  Coo 
numerous ;  but  they  were  then  told  that  al- 
though they  were  numerous,  but  few  would 
come  over,  as  the  government  could  not  com- 
pel them ;  and  that  if  they  did  not  fight  they 
would  lose  their  land.  Some  of  the  white  peo- 
ple were  also  led  to  believe,  that  they  would  be 
deprived  of  their  land  and  other  property.  In 
the  course  of  the  summer,  on  the  line  between 
fort  George  and  fort  Erie,  there  were  not  more 
than  1000  Indians  under  arms  at  onetime. 
These  Indians  go  to  and  fro  as  they  please,  to 
the  country  and  back,  and  are  very  troublesome 
to  the  women  when  their  *husbands  are  gone, 
as  they  plunder  and  take  what  they  please, 
and  often  beat  the  women,  to  force  them  to 
give  them  whiskey,  even  when  they  are  not  in 
possession  of  any ;  and  when  tbey  see  any  man 
that  has  not  gone  to  the  lines,  they  call  him  a 
Yankee,  and  threaten  to  kill  him  for  not  going 
to  fight ;  and  indeed  in  some  instances,  their 
threats  have  been  put  in  execution.  They  act 
with  great  authority  and  rage,  since  they  have 
stained  their  hands  with  human  blood. 

The  inhabitants  at  large  would  be  extremely 
glad  to  get  out  of  their  present  miserable  situa- 


<  'i 

I  r 


^h 

■^ 


l"! 


■k 


98 


u 

h 

ti 


tion,  at  almost  any  rate ;  but  they  dare  not  ven* 
ture  a  rebellioD,  without  being  sur&  of  protec- 
tion. And  as  they  now  do  not  expect  that  the 
American  government  will  ever  send  in  a  suffi- 
ciently large  army  to  afford  them  a  security, 
should  they  rebel,  they  feel  it  their  duty  to  kill 
all  th^y  can  while  they  are  coming  over,  that 
they  may  discourage  any  more  from  invading 
the  province,  that  the  government  may  give  up 
the  idea  of  conquering  it,  and  withdraw  their 
forces,  that  they  may  go  home  also ;  for  they 
are  greatly  distressed  in  leaving  their  families 
80  long,  many  of  whom  are  in  a  suffering  con- 
dition. 

Ever  since  the  commencement  of  the  war, 
there  has  been  no  collection  of  debts  by  law,  in 
the  upper  part  of  the  province,  and  towards  the 
fall  in  no  part ;  nor  would  one  pay  another.  No 
person  can  get  credit  from  any  one  to  the 
amount  of  one  dollar ;  nor  can  any  one  sell  any 
of  their  property  for  any  price,  except  provision 
or  clothing ;  for  those  who  have  money,  are  de- 
termined to  keep  it  for  the  last  resort.  No  bu- 
siness is  carried  on  by  any  person,  except  what 
is  absolutely  necessary  for  the  time.     ^ 

In  the  upper  part  of  the  province,  all  the 
schools  are  broken  up,  and  no  preaching  is  heard 
in  all  the  land.  All  is  gloomy— all  is  war  and 
misery. 

Upon  the  declaration  of  war,  the  governor 
^aid  an  embargo  on  all  the  flcur,    wheat,   and 


■  •.» 


99 


pork  then  in  the  province,  destined  for  markei,* 
which  was  at  a  time  when  very  little  had  left 
the  province.  The  next  harvest  was  truly 
bountiful,  as  also  the  crops  of  corn,  buckwhieat 
and  peas ;  the  most  of  which  were  gathered, 
except  the  buckwheat,  which  was  on  the  ground 
when  all  the  people  were  called  away  after  the 
battle  of  Queenston ;  so  that  the  people  have 
a  plenty  of  provision  as  yet  (April,  1813.)  But, 
should  the  war  continue,  they  must  suffer,  as 
not  more  than  one  half  pf  the  farmers,  especial- 
ly of  the  upper  part  of  Canada,  sowed  any  win- 

^  ter  grain,  because  when  they  ought  to  have 
done  it,  they  were  called  away  to  the  lines. 
Although  1  say  that  the  people  in  general  have 
grain  enough,  yet  some  women  are  now  suffer- 
ing for  bread,  as  their  husbands  are  on  the  lines^ 
and  they  and  their  children  have  no  money 

^  nor  credit,  nor  can  they  get  any  work  to  do. 

As  soon  as  the  snow  fell  in  Canaria,  and  the 
Bleighing  became  good,  (which  was  a  the  last 
of  November)  the  British  exerted  themselves  to 

^  the  utmost  to  prov'do  for  the  support  of  the 

.  war.  A  large  price  was  offered  for  flour  and 
pork,  particularly  near  the  line  of  the  lower 
part  of  the  State  of  New  York,  on  the  St.  Law- 
rence, and  near  the  line  of  Vermont  and  New- 
Hampshire,  in  order  to  get  a  large  supply  for 
another  year,  and  to  induce  the  citizens  of  the 
United  States  to  transgress  the  laws ;  and  it 


i 


I 


100 


• 


v>  . 


appears  that  some,  by  the  love  of  money,  were 
prevailed  upon  to  do  it. 

In  the  months  of  December  and  January, 
some  hundreds  of  slays  were  almost  constantly 
on  the  road  from  Montreal  and  other  places  In 
I  he  lower  province,  carrying  provisions  and 
uiilitary  stores  to  Kingston,  York,  Niagara, 
und  other  parts  in  the  upper  province.  But 
where  all  these  provisions  came  from  I  am  not 
able  to  say. 

About  this  time  in  Deceinber,  the  British  also 
weio  making  preparations  to  assemble  a  large 
force  at  Kingston,  in  order  to  cross  the  lower 
Qnd  of  lake  Ontsrio  on  the  lee,  and  if  possible 
fo  destroy  the  American  vessels  laying  at  Sack- 
ett's  Harbor,  which  they  considered  as  power- 
ful and  dangerous :  and  to  effect  this  they  were 
determined  to  lay  out  all  their  strength,  or  all 
that  they  possibly  could  spare,  for  that  busi- 
ness.* 

* 

.^  '^  Sonje  time  in  February,  information  reached  the 
United  Stales  that  the  governor  of  the  lower  province 
had  arrived  at  Kingston  with  5000  troops,  which  togeth- 
er with  what  was  stationed  there,  and  with  what  might 
be  colk  ct?.d  of  the  militia  round  about^  would  make  an 
army  of  9000  strong;  and  I  have  wondered  why  they 
c!;d  not  make  an  attempt  while  the  ice  was  strong;  but 
r^s  it  was  not  done,  1  am  inclined  to  believe  that  the  mi- 
litia would  not  go  over  for  that  purpose,  as  the  law  doef 
iTot  oblige  them. 


r. 


t    ■"»-«»       -T*« 


^ 


J 


-101 


In  the  nioiUh  of  December  about  120  ship 
carpenters  came  from  the  lower  province  to 
Kingston  and  York»  in  order  to  build  7  vessels 
on  lake  Ontario.  The  goveriiment  expected  to 
have  them  finbhed  by  the  time  the  ice  was  out 
<ofrthe  iakO)  which  7f  with  4  that  were  then 
nearly  fit  for  use,  would  make  a  fleet  of  1 1  saili 
which  it  vvas  thought  would  be  sufficient  to 
regain  possession  of  lake  Ontario.  However,  I 
am  fully  of  opinion  that  the  British  wiil  not  be 
able  to  finish  more  than  3  before  the  ice  leaves 
the  lake. 

t4  Some  little  time  before  Hull  invaded  the  pro- 
vince, there  was  an  armistice  entered  into  by 
the  commanders  of  the  armies  on  both  sides  of 
the  line,  at  wluch  time  a  number  of  nnlitia 
were  permitted  to  go  home^  and  whichwas>a 
joyful  thing  to  them.  When  this  aFmistice  was 
made  known  to  Mr.  Madison  he  refused  to 
agree  to  it,  and  when  notice  was  given  of  hi& 
lefusal  to  the  gavemor  of  Canada^  all  the  mill* 
tia  w^ere  called  back.  .Some  time  before  the* 
battle  of  Queenstoi^  these  was  another  armisv 
tice  agreed  upon  for  an  unlimited  ti«ne,  but  the 

.  conditions  were  sueh,  that  if, either  party  wished 
to  commence  hostilities,  that  patty  should  give* 
the  other  4  days  notice.  Immediately  upgn^ 
this  agreement,  almost  alt  the  militia  were 
permitted  to  go  heme»  and  about  one  halTof 
them  had  got  some  miles  upon  the  road^  awl 

12. 


r, 


'^. 


I 


\i 


! 


102 

some  that  lived  nigh  to  the  liae  had  got  once 
more  tQ  the  bosom  of  their  famUiesy  with  the 
sweet  hope  of  never  again  returning  to  the 
place  of  danger  and  death.  But  oh,  hard  fate  I 
notice  was  sent  from  the  Amerioan  side  that 
the  armistice  must  end  in  4  days ;  of  course,  all 
the  militia  that  had  got  home,  or  on  their  way.  ^  ^ 
were  ealled  back  again,  and  ^th  a  heavy  heart  ^  ) 
many  a  man  parted  with  the  wife  of  his  bosomt 
and  children  of  his  love,  for  the  last  time. 

The  Indians  are  forbid  by  the  British  govern- 
ment from  crossing  the  lines  at  any  time  or  place, 
and  are  watched  and  guarded  for  fear  they  will ; 
for  the  British  know  that  if  the  Indians  were 
permitted  to  er^ss  and  commit  depredations  on 
the  United  States'  side,  that  it  would  juite  all 
the  people  against  them.* 
' '  They  told  me  that  noneof  the  Indians  took 
any  scalps  from  women  or  children  but  only 
from  those  whom  they  had  killed  ittbat4e;bttt 
they  wished  that  the  Governor   would  give 
th«im  money  for  scalpPf  they  would  kiHjplenQr*  ^ 
I  was  toU  when  they  took  these  serips  down  to  . 
Fort  G^rge,  the  Governor  and  CoL  Claus  re*  ' 
proved  Aem  for  their  conductt  and  told  them  t>  . 
take  no  more  scalps  at  aiqr  (une  ^  place.  i 

*  The  tndians  took  a  number  of  scalps  at  the  battle  of 
Brownstowis ;  I  asked  sonse  who  stopped  at  my  house^ 
if  the  governor  gave  them  money  for  them^  Ihey  told  me 
noU  but  they  taid  they  took  them  to  show  the  gav^r*    ' 

pot  how  many  they  killed. 


m 


lOc^ 


t  once 
khthe 
to  ibe 
dfftte! 
le  tliae 
rse,all 
r  way, 
r  heart 

!MI80in» 

oveni- 
place, 
J  will ; 
I  were 
onson 
lite  aU 

sCook 
booly 
?;biit 
give 
tenty. 
nra  to 
QSie* 
eiii«> 

ttle  of 
louse^ 
»ld  me 


V  In  making  theae  remaks  I  do  not  wish  to 
be  understood  that  I  believe  the  British  govern- 
ment is  too  good  to  wish  or  permit  the  Indians 
to  kill  and  scalp  any  that  lies  in  their  power. 
I  do  not  pretend  to  say  or  judge  how  this  is, 
but  I  was  led  to  believe  that  the  British  did  not 
allow  the  Indians  to  take  scalps  or  else  they 
kept  the  thing  very  secret.  However,  I  do  not 
pretend  to  determine. 

The  inhabitants  in  general  feel  as  if  they 
were  fighting  against  their  own  fathers,  broth- 
ers, and  sons,  which  in  many  instances  is  actu- 
ally the  case.  In  the  first  of  the  war  the  peo- 
ple of  .Canada  seemed  panic  struck ;  they  ceas- 
ed from  all  business,  they  even  neglected  to 
prepare  or  eat  food,  until  hunger  compelled 
them  to  it.  However,  after  a  while  they  began 
to  do  a  little  work,  yet  only  what  was  needful 
at  the  present  time. 

'  -The  opinion  of  many  in  Canada  now  is  that 
the  piDvinoe  ought  now  to  be  conquered  for  the 
good  of  the  inabitants  on  both  sides,  for  many 
in  Canada  nnce  the  vrar,  on  the  Briti^  side, 
have  showed  themselves  strong  friends  to  the 
United  States,  and  are  marked  by  the  British 
government  as  objects  of  revenge  on  that  ac- 
count. Here  there  has  been  a  considerable 
number  of  Indians  killed  by  the  Americans, 
which  has  so  exasperated  those  now  alive,  that 
should  there  be  a  treaty  madey  and  those  Ish 


li 


i 


104 


di^ns  allowed  as  much  lil^rty  as  they  now 
have*  they  would  continually  be  crossing  the 
line  and  comn^tting  murders  on  the  inhabitants 
of  the  frontierl  to  revenge  the  loss  of  their  kin- 
dred. And  also  because  there  has  a  number  of 
Americans  left  the  province  since  the  war^  ei- 
ther by  permission  or  without,  and  a  number  of 
these  have  land  and  other  property  there  which 
they  never  can  obtain  again^  except  the  prov- 
ince  is  conquered:  for  it  inust  be  noticed  that 
all  the  land  in  Canada  has  been  given  to  the  first 
settlers  by  ^he  king,  and  it  is  specified  in  every 
original  deed,  which,  is  a  deed  of  gift,  that  na 
person  can  hold  it  by  transfei'ment  more  than 
tl  year,  except  they  take  the  oath  of  allegiance 
to  his  majesty.  Now,  although  this  is  the  law 
and  it  is  so  specified  in  every  original  deed,  yet 
very  few  people  knew  it  to  be  the  case  that 
went  from  the  United  States  and  bought  land, 
of  coiirse  many  have  lived  there  on  their  land 
a  number  pf  years  without  taking  the  qatbt  and 
as  many  of  such  hav^  come  away  rather  than 
take  the  oath^  of  course  their  lands,  according 
40  tlaw,  will  faH  baek  to  the  kkig. 

After  the  battled  Queenstony  the  Britbh 
continued  to  augmeiH  their  forcea  on  the  Hne 
between  forts  G^oige'atnd  Erte. 

About  the  20th  of  Oct.  was  the  usual  time 
for  a  number  of  Indians  from  lake  Simeoe,  prin« 
dpaily  of  Hie  Massasugas  Uibe^  to  assen^bfe  at 


y-        ^ 


v-'.-l 


105 


ley  now 
ising  the 
babitafirts 
heir  km- 
imber  of 
wftff  ei- 
imber  of 
re  v^hich 
he  proT« 
teed  that 
>  the  Qrst 
in  every 
that  no 
ore  than 
legiance 
the  law 
»ed,  yet 
ise  that 
It  land, 
leirland 
Ltbf  and 
.er  than 
e(»rdiBg 

British 
the  Une 

al  lime 
e,  prin« 
i|bte  al 


' 


York/ (about  120Qin  number)  in  order  to  hold 
their  fall  council,  and  receive  their  gifts. 

Gen.  Sheaffe  met  them  there,  and  after  they 
had  received  their  gifts,  proposed  to  the  warriors 
to  go  to  fort  George  and  engage  in  the  war. 
However,  they  declined  going,  as  their  squaws 
were  with  them. 

The  general  then  gave  them  a  very  large  ox 
and  two  barrels  of  whiskey,  upon  which  they 
had  a  merry  feast  and  a  war  dance;  at  the 
same  time  they  declared  war  against  the  Uni- 
ted States  in  a  formal  manner.  In  moving  in  a 
circuitous  form,  whenever  they  came  towards 
the  United  Slates,  they  held  up  their  hatchet, 
gave  a  strike  In  the  air  and  a  yell. 

This  was  about  3  o'clock,  and  by  5,  about, 
350  embarked  and  as  many  more  riflemen  with 
the  general  for  fort  George,  and  the  old  Indians 
and  squaws  returned  to  lake  Simcoe. 

The  garrison  at  York  was  then  almost  desti- 
tute of  soldiers,  but  in  a  little  time  the  militia 
to  a  considerable  amount  were  called  in. 

About  this  time,  or  a  little  after,  the  Ameri- 
cans came  on  shore  1 8  miles  above  Kingston, 
and  burnt  a  vessel  belonging  to  Mr.  Fairfield, 
and  took  another  on  the  lake. 

Things  remained  in  this  situation  till  about 
the  2  Jth  of  Nov.  when  Gen.  Chandler  invaded 
Canada,  about  50  miles  from  Montreal,  with 
300  soldiers.  It  appears  that  in  destroying  an 
old  fortification  some  of  the  men  were  killed. 


>■  ' 


I  I 

I 


4 

106 


.'^k 


On  the  27th  of  Nov.  Gen.  Smyth  made  an 
attempt  to  cross  from  Black  Rock  into  Canada 
(river  V  mile  wide)  he  first  sent  300  soldiers  and 
sailors  under  Capt.  King :  they  stormed  3  bat- 
teries, and  spiked  the  cannon  \vith  the  loss  of  40. 

About  10  o'clock  the  same  day,  some  sol- 
diers went  over,  burnt  some  houses  and  brought 
away  considerable  plunder. 

After  Gen.  Smyth  had  embarked  the  troops 
twice  he  gave  over  the  project,  and  for  which 
he  has  been  severely  censured  by  many ;  but 
upon  the  whole,  perhaps  it  was  best,  as  at  that 
time  he  was  not  able  to  take  over  with  hiux 
more  than  2500  soldiers,  which  was  not  enough, 
as  the  British  had  at  that  time  8000  soldiers 
on  the  line  between  forts  George  and  Erie,  a 
distance  of  34  miles  only. 

As  Smyth  and  his  army  were  seen  by  the 
British  coming  over  and  twice  returning  back, 
it  was  confidently  reported  and  generally  be- 
lieved, that  the  American  army  had  mutinized. 

This  very  much  encouraged  the  inhabitants, 
judging  from  hence  that  the  soldiers  would  not 
come  over  at  all ;  knowing  also  that  many  had 
refused  so  to  do  at  the  time  of  the  battle  of 
Q,ueenston. 

After  this,  as  the  winter  was  coming  on,  the 
British  calculated  that  they  should  not  be  inva- 
ded agiin,  at  least  till  the  ice  of  the  river  became 
strong ',  the  Col.  of  each  regiment  therefore  per- 


t« 


.n 


lade  an 
Canada 
ersand 
1  3  bac- 
8of40. '^ 
me  sol- 
wrought 

troops 
which 
'';  but 
at  tlaat 
th  him 
nough, 
oldiers 
Irie,  a 

by  the 
back, 
liybe. 
nized. 
itants, 
Id  not 
yhad 
ttle  of 

1,  the 
inv^. 
came 
eper- 


107 


mitted  the  principal  part  of  the  militia  to  go 
home. 

The  following  remarks  respecting  the  progress 
of  the  war,  are  made  from  information  receiz^d 
from  the  public  papers  and  other  sources^  and 
from  my  knowledge  of  the  province  and  adjacent 
parts^  in  which  the  operations  of  the  war  have 
been  continued  to  this  date^  and  from  my  know- 
ledge  of  the  British  officers^  ^c, — for  on  the  29th 
of  Dec,  I  crossed  the  line  at  Ogdensburgh, 
,^  It  appears  that  from  the  time  of  the  partial 
Invasion  of  Gen.  Smyth,  that  there  was  nothing 
of  note  done  till  the  defeat  of  a  part  of  the  north 
western  armyi  under  the  command  of  Gen. 
Winchester,  on  the  22d  of  January,  1813,  near 
the  rapids  of  the  Miami,  which  is  about  65  miles 
south  of  Detroit. 

Winchester's  army  was  about  1000  strong, 
and  was  attacked  by  nearly  double  that  num. 
ber  of  British  and  Indians,  and  as  the  battle  was 
obstinately  contested,  nearly  400  Americans 
were  killedrthe  rest  were  made  prisoners,  about 
600.  All  the  militia  taken  were  paroled  and 
sent  home,  not  to  fight  in  the  war  again. 

About  the  1 2th  of  Feb.  Capt.  Forsyth,  com- 
manding a  company  of  U.  S.  truops  (riflemen) 
at  Ogdensburgh,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Oswegat- 
chie  river,  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  70  miles  belew 
Sackett's  harbor,  marched  with  300  men  up  the 
rivej:  12  miles,  and  crossed  over  to  Canada  to  a 


^ 


.■^ 


1^ 


.*^^- 


i«4 


tW^^jaf-u- 


108 


♦ 


f 


-f 


little  village  (Brockville)  on  the  banks  of  the  ri- 
ver, where  the  British  kept  a  garrison  of  about 
60  soldiers,  which  he  took  with  some  military 
stores,  without  loss. 

This  so  exasperated  the  British,  that  they 
collected  a  force  of  about  1200,  about  the  20th 
of  the  same  month,  chiefly  militia,  and  crossed 
the  river  from  Prescott  (2  miles)  effected  a  land- 
ing in  spite  of  Forsyth  and  his  riflemen — drove 
them  9  miles  to  Black  Lake,  with  considerable 
loss  on  both  sides. 

They  burnt  all  the  buildings  of  the  garrison 
at  that  place,  which  however  was  of  little  val- 
ue, as  they  were  at  least  100  years  old,  ha'^ng 
been  built  by  the  French,  and  were  badly  situ- 
ated.  The  British  also  carried  off  much  milita- 
ry stores. 

On  the  24th  or  the  25th  of  April,  Com.  Chaun- 
cey  with  about  16  sail  of  vessels,  and  general 
Dearborn  with  about  2000  soldiers  and  sailors, 
left  Sackett's  harbor,  for  York,  on  the  British 
side  of  lake  Ontario,  distant  190  miles,  and  ar- 
rived there  on  the  morning  of  the  27lh  at  7 
o'clock. 

The  American  army  began  to  land  in  boats 
abou^  8  o'clock,  one  mile  up  the  lake  from  the 
fort,  and  two  from  the  town,  or  west  of  the 
town  and  fort.  At  this  place  the  banks  are 
high  and  the  woodi  thick.  They  were  met 
by  the  British  force,  Indians,  a  few  regulars 


> 


■m^ 


...-.■'>• -^\, 


T 


.A 


109 


*' 


f  the  ri- 
f about 
nilitary 

It  they 
le  20Ch 
crossed 
aland- 
-drove 
ierable 

arrison 
tie  val- 
ha'ftng 
7  situ, 
milita- 


^haun- 
;eneral 
lailors, 
British 
nd  ar- 
h  at  7 

boats 
m  th& 
f  the 
^s  are 
met 
;uiars 


and  miUtta  under  Gen.  SheafFe,  in  number 
about  800  strong.  In  about  2  hourS)  in  spite 
of  the  British,  15  or  1600  landed  under  the  com- 
mand of  Gen.  Pike;  the  British  then  retreated 
towards  the  fort,  while  the  Americans  pursued 
them,  and  when  within  about  300  yards  of  it, 
a  treiAehdous  e:£plosion  took  place,  of  powder 
and  combustibles*  that  had  been  concealed  un- 
der ground,  and  which  spread  death  and  de- 
structioB  4D^ng  the  American  army  and  Brit- 
ish  also. 

The  number  of  killed  by  this  explosion  is  not 
yet  AiUy  ascertained ;  Gen.  Dearbdrn  thinks  it 
is  more  than  100,  among  which  was  Gen.  Pike. 
About  300  was  lost  in  all. 

After  this  explosion  the  command  fell  upon 
Col.  Piefce,  who  soon  took  possession  of  the 
fort,  which  the  British  left,  as  Com.  Chauncey 
had  got  some  of  his  fleet  within  600  yards  of 
the  fort,  and  was  firing  upon  it.    The  British 
moved  down  to  the  town,  (1  mile)  after  having 
set  ^re  to  some  of  the  public  stores,  and  1  ves- 
sel nearly  finished.    Gen.  Sheaffe  moved  off 
with  what  regular  troops  were  left,   towards 
Kingston,  and  left  orders  with  the  commanding 
officer  of  the  militia  (G.  S.  Mitchell)  to  make 
the  best  terms  he  could^^ 
^  About  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  Ameri- 
can flag  wa$  hoisted,  and  by  3,  all  was  peace, 
and  a  capitulation  was  agreed  Upon :  all  the 

K 


J.  * 


\-. 


i 


n 


'I^- 


•/ 


^^ 


m 


i 


lr'\t>. 


110 

militia  were  paroled,  about  400,  and  all  the  u%- 
val  and  military  stores  were  given  up. 

On  the  first  of  May  the  troops  were  embark- 
ed, but  owing  to  contrary  winds,  did  not  leave 
York  till  the  8th,  but  the  same  evening  they 
reached  the  4  mile  creek,  a  little  below  fort  Ni- 
agara, and  unladed  some  of  the  stores. 

On  the  next  Sunday  evening  two  vessels  sail- 
ed for  the  head  of  the  lake  to  get  some  British 
stores,  which  they  effected  without  loss,  and 
returned  on  Tuesday. 

On  the  13th,  Com.  Chauncey  arrived  at 
Sackett's  hsirbor,  where  Gen.  Pike  was  interred 
with  the  honors  of  war. 

On  the  1st,  2d  and  3d  of  May,  the  British 
forces  of  regulars  and  militia,  under  Gen.  Proc- 
tor, and  Indians  under  Tecumseh,  in  all  about 
3000  strong,  attacked  Gen.  Harrison  in  fort 
Meigs.  On  the  4th  or  5th,  about  9  o'clock. 
Gen.  Clay  arrived  witb.  SOO  Kentucky  volun- 
teers, in  boats,  up  the  Miami — landed  and  made 
a  heroic  push  upon  the  British  and  Indians,  then 
fighting  before  fort  Meigs -^they  were  drove  ofif 
and  the  cannon  spiked.  However  they  ileglect- 
ed  to  go  into  the  fort,  or  back  to  the  boats — 
-were  drawn  some  distance  into  the  woods  by 
skirmii^hes  with  the  Ij^jdians:  they  were  sur- 
rounded by  the  British,  and  650  fell  into  their 
bands,  dead  or  alive,  though  chiefly  alive. 

Aftter  this  the  Americans  ob|t;ftined  some  small 


Ill 

advantages  over  the  British,  who  on  the  9th  of 
April  raised  the  seige  and  returned ;  after  which 
Gen.  Harrison  left  the  command  of  the  fort  to 
Gen.  Clay,  and  went  to  the  south. 

On  the  27th  of  May,*  Gen.  Dearborn,  Lewis 
and  others,  embarked  with  Com.  Chauncey  on 
board  the  fleet,  at  fort  Niagara,  to  the  number 
of  about  400Q  strong.    They  landed  about  2 
miles  from  fort  George,  up  the  lake,  near  the 
li^ht  house  rthe  vessels  anchored  within  a  quar- 
ter of  a  mile  of  the  shore :  with  boats  the  army 
v^as  landed  by  the  assistance  of  the  cannon 
from  the  fleet,  in  spite  of  the  opposition  of  about 
BOOO  Britbh  forces,  with  some  flying  artillery, 
under  Gen.  Vincent.    After  about  a  half  an 
hour  hard  fighting,  the  British  retreated  towards 
fort  George,  which  was  much  injured  from  the 
flrning  of  two  vessels  in  the  mouth  of  the  river, 
and  some  batteries  on  the  east  side.    The  Brit- 
ish did  not  go  in,  but  gave  orders  to  blow  it 
upj  ind  the  cannon  of  all  the  batteries  on  the* 
line,  ifrom  fort  George  to  Erie,  were  opened 
upon  the  American  shore,  which  continued  all 
nighf,  and  in  the  morning  were  bursted,   and 
all  the  places  were  evacuated,  after  much  de. 
struction  of  barracks  and  public  stores. 

The  British  continued  their  retreat  to  the  west 
of  fort  George,  on  a  road  which  leads  through 


« 


' 


*  Just  SOtiays  after  the  capture  of  York. 


•pBaL-*:- 


112 


,1   u 


black  swamp,  which  connects  it  with  the  main 
road  to  40  mile  creek,  10  miles  from  fort 
George. 

On  the  next  d&y,  the  whole  British  force  from 
the  Niagara  river,  met  at  40  mile  creek)  31 
miles  from  Niagara,  where  they  made  a  stand. 

In  a  little  time  the  American  army  entered 
fort  George  and  hoisted  the,  flag.  ^ 

The  next  evening,  Col.  Preston  crossed  over 
from  Black  Rock,  and  took  possesiibn  of  fort 
Erie ;  at  the  same  time  h^ublished  an  address 
to  the  people,  inviting  them  to  come  and  enrol 
fheir  namei^%ith  him  and  claim  the  protection 
of  the  United  States^  at  the  same  time  warning 
them  that  if  they  did  not  they  should  be  dealt 
with  in  a  rigorous  manner.  It  does  not  appear 
that  any  of  them  came.  After  he  had  been  there  , 
a  short  time,  he  destroyed  the  fort  and  went  to 
fort  George. 

The  number  of  killed  in  this  actioival  fbrt 
George,  must  be  considerable  on  both  sl^e^  - 
though  it  is  not  yet  known.  f*^?  ^ 

It  appears  that  in  3^days  after,  on  tb^  3f sf, 
that  Com.  Chauncey  sailed  with  his  fleet^'for 
Sackett's  harbor  with  Gen.  Lewis,  and  that 
Gen.  Boyd  took  the  command  under  Gen. 
Dearborn.  ^  ^ 

On  the  1  st  of  June,  Gen.  Winder  with  2000 
troops  left  fort  George  in  pursuit  of  the  British, 
who  had  made  a  stand  at  the  40  mile  creek. 


i  J .: 


^  ^^-^v^^  '-m 


..     ^a,.^.*  iru^ 


'/^g^^  ■ 


■^: 


•W- 


^7 


le  main 
»m  fort 

Be  from 
«k,  31 
I  stand, 
entered 

)d  over 
[)f  fort 
tddress 
i  enrol 
teotion 
arning 
3  dealt 
ippear 
I  there 
ent  to 

ilfoi^ 
sMeg,  . 

a*sr, 

that 
Gen. 

2000 
ritish, 
t. 


lis 

On  the  4  A,  Gen.  Chandler,  with  2000  more, 
marched  to  join  Gen.  Winder.  On  the  ap- 
proach of  Winder  the  British  retreated  1 8  miles, 
to  the  head  of  Burlington  bay,  where  they 
threw  up  intrenchments.  Part  of  the  Ameri* 
can  army  proceeded  10  miles  farther,  to  the  50 
mile  creek,  and  eKcamped  on  Saturday  nighty 
the  5th,  On  Sunday  morning  before  light  it 
was  very  dark,  j^bout  500  regulars  under 
Gen.  Yuicent,  ancTsome  Indians  under  the 
chief  Norton,  unperceived  broke  into  the  Amer- 
ican camp,  took  possession  of  7  pieces  of  can- 
non, which  they  turned  i^ainst  their  foes— the 
confusion  was  great — generals  Winder  and 
Chandler  were  taken  prisoners,  and  many  more 
— ^five  pieces  of  cannon  were  taken.  The  Amer- 
icans fought  weli-^the  British  retired,  leaving 
li^  bebttid  them :  however  they  were  noi  put* 
^ed. 

The  same  day  Gen.  Dearborn  sent  orders  far 
the  American  army  to  return  Co  fort  George, 
Hi  lieluid  seen  several  British  vessels  sail  for  u^e 
hc^  of  the  lake,  which  he  supposed  intended 
to  land  reinforcements,  which  vras  done.  At 
the  same  time  sir  James  Yeo  appeared  with  his 
fleet  off  the  40  mile  creek,  and  demanded  the 
surrender  of  the  American  army,  stating  that 
it  must  of  necessity  fall  into  the  hanAs  of  the 
British. 

'  The  American  army  then  retumed  to  fcnre 

K2 


f    '   : 


114 


George,  having  lost  a  consideirable  number,  be- 
ing taken  prisoners  by  the  Indians  and  miUtia, 
>vho  hung  on  the  skirts  of  the  army,  nearly 
throughout  their  march.  r 

On  the  next  day  all  the  British  army  return* 
ed  to  the  40  mile  creek.  At  the  same  time  the 
British  took  12  boats  on  their  return  to  fort 
George,  with  the  baggage  of  the  officers.*  ^ 
^,  On  the  29th  of  May,  (2  days  after  Gen.  Dear- 
born landed  at  Niagara)  %  British  vessels  and 
30  boats  appeared  before  Sackett's  harbor,  from 
which  nearly  1200  men  effected  a  landing  a 
little  above  the  harbor.  They  drove  the  Amer- 
icans back  nearly  a  mile,  with  considerable  loss : 
however,  they  were  obliged  to  retreat  to  their 
vessels  and  leave  many  behind. 
-^  As  the  victory  wa6  doubtful  for  some  time, 
the  Americans  set  fire  to  all  the  mililllj^  ^Upt^ 
in  that  place,  among  which  was  some^tftketr  |U; 
York. 

The  British  were  commanded  by' Oei^^ral 

Sheaffe,  and  the  fleet  by  Yeo:  the  Ameiiciiis 

by  Gei^  Brown,  of  the  militia,  Col.  Mil#and 

iCol.  Bickus  were  killed  early  in  the  actioii.  vT 

i:    On  the  1 2th  of  June,  15  days  after  DearbiHti 

liad  landied  at  Niagara  In  Canada,  the  British 

fleet  of  7>  sail  of  large  and  some  small  vessels, 

;  captured  2  schooners  and  some  boatH  n^r  the 

^     *  About  this  time  the  British  captured  2  schooners  on 
lake  Champlain*        r-    ^^  ^  -   -^-'^^^ri**'- 


,ievi. 


!>er,be' 
militia, 
nearly 

return- 
tne  the 
to  fort 
\* 

.Dear- 
^Is  and 
ri  from 
iing  a 
Amer- 
le  loss : 
0  their 

)  timet 

ketimt 


hrahd 

Etrbom 
British 
essels, 
ar  the 

aers  on 


lid 


IT  mile  creek,  12  miles  east  of  Niagara,  on  the 
United  States  shore  of  the  lake.  They  were 
laden  with  hospital  stores  for  the  army. 

On  the  15th,  some  soldiers  landed  from  the 
fleet,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Genesee  river,  and 
took  off  from  the  village  of  Charlotteville,  500 
barrels  of  flour  and  pork,  and  a  large  boat  load- 
ed with  1200  bushels  of  corn,  destined  for  the 
army  at  Niagara. 

w<  On  the  i8th,  they  landed  at  Sodus,  burnt 
some  buildings,  and  carried  off  SOO  barrels  of 
flour. 

^  About  the^Sd  of  June,^Capt.  Chauncey,  of 
one  of  the  American  vessels  captured  one  of 
the  British  vessels  (the  Lady  Murray,  laden  with 
military  stores  ) 

On  die  24th  of  June,  Gen.  Dearborn  sent  out 
579  npi^Pf  under  Col.  Boerstler,  in  pursuit  of 
soiiii!?/>$riti8h  near  the  beaver  dam,  16  miles  from 
fort^eorge :  they  were  surrounded  by  a  num- 
ber pf  British  and  Indians,  and  all  killed  or  ta- 

fceii.    ■ 
-Oh  the  27th  of  June,  Gen.  De  Kottenburgh 

arrivedin  Upper  Canada,;  as  governor  of  the 
same.  . 

-^^ On  the  10th  of  July,  250  British  xjrossed  over 
the  Niagara  river»  below  Squaw  island,  and 
marched  up  to  Black  Rock  j  the  militia  in  that 
place  (only  a  few)  retreated,  and  the  British 
burnt  the  barracks  and  blockhouse,  took  some 
salt,  flour  and  pork,  3  field  pieces,  and  1  twelve 


'tr^ 


iL6 


pouoder.  In  a  little  time  the  militia  reinfor] 
ced — come  upon  the  British— an  engagement 
took  place  for  15  minutes,  when  the  British  re- 
treated over  the  river  with  some  loss. 

On  the  17th  of  July,  200  British  attacked  the 
American  picket  guards:  detachments  were 
sent  out  and  drove  (hem  back  with  loss.  About 
this  time  Gen.  Dearborn  received  orders  to  re- 
sign the  command  of  the  armjTy  and  Gen.  Wil- 
kinson took  it.  i 
*  The  2  J  St  of  July,  fort  Meigs  was  beseiged  by 
the  British  and  Indi|ns»  2000  strong.  Howev- 
er, it  appeared  that  they  made  a  heroic  resist- 
ance under  Maj.  Croghan,  and  that  they  retired 
a  little;  and  that  Gen.  Harrison  was  on  his 
way  to  the  fert  with  reinforcements. 

On  the  23d  of  July,  6  British  vessels  came 
near  to  Erie  and  made  some  little  iittempts  to 
injure  the  American  fleet  under  C«»m.  Pfrry, 
which  is  somewhat  less  than  that  of  the  British. 
<  On  the  2d  of  August,  1300  British  landed 
from  lake  Champlain  at  Plattsburgfa ;  what  lit- 
lie  force  was  there  retreated  with  sa^tjr :  they 
Mhnmt  all  the  public  Imildings  in  the  i4ace :  there 
4y^as  no  stores  there. 

About  the  10th,  the  British  fleet  came  near 
fc^t  Geoi^e  and  the  American  fleet,  whf^  pur- 
fued  them,  but  did  not  come  up  with  them.^ 
Both  of  the  fleets  were  manoeuvring  in  sight  of 

•  The  force  of  tbfe  two  fleets  was  about  equal. 


117 


reinforj 
Kement 
tish  re- 

%' 
kedthe 
t  were 
About 
I  to  re- 
n.  Wil. 

gedby 
[owev- 
resist- 
retired 
on  his 

came 
ipta  to 
P*rry, 
British, 
anded 
mt  lit- 

they 
there 


each  other  for  3  dayst  at  length  the  British  sue* 
ceeded  in  cutting  off  two  of  the  American 
schooners,  viz.  the  Julia  of  3  guns,  and  the 
Growler  of  5.  It  appears  that  when  the  cap- 
tain of  the  Julia  (Trent)  saw  it  was  impossible 
to  escape,  he  hove  his  little  vessel  along  side  of 
the  British  commander's  Vessel  (the  Wolfe)  and 
the  Royal  George,  and  fired  30  rounds,  declar. 
ing  he  would  not  strike^^he  went  down  with 
his  vessel.    The  Growler  was  captured. 

It  also  appearSf  that  on  the  16th  of  August, 
2  other  schooners  were  upset  in  a  gale,  viz. 
the  Scourge  of  8  guns,  and  the  Hamilton ;  16 
persons  were  saved  out  of  90.  Two  others 
have  been  condemned  as  unfit  for  service,  viz. 
the  Fair  American  and  the  Pert.  These  disas- 
ters happened  near  the  head  of  the  lake. 


■  U.' 


,  it   .    ■ 


'V 


>*-.ri 


:''.i}.,*-r.'    tt  A-''^. 


i^' 


f 


I' 


}  near 
bpur- 
bein.* 
she  of 


■m. 


^i'*--? 


-.M-  i'^*f*^''-   -^i. 


'-*%'^; 


i-'t-*t 


1  ,     '^I'k     *» 


•■* 


tl8 


C 


f .'  T^E  author  tenders  his  acknowledgments  to  the 
public^  for  the  ready  reception  of  the  first  impressions  of 
this  book.  He  has  now  got  a  second  printed^  with  con- 
siderable  enlargements  and  corrections. 

The  history  of  the  war  in  Canada,  is  brought  down 
to  the  21st  of  August,  1813,  to  the  very  hour  the  last 
sheet  was  struclc.  Since  the  war  began,  there  has  been 
several  accounts  published  relative  to  Canada :  the  author 
will  not  make  any  comments  on  them ;  but  with  regard 
to  this  book,  he  x;an  testify  that  the  geographical  part  is 
true,  as  he  had  the  best  apportunity  to  obtain  a  correct 
knowledge  of  the  province,  having  lived  there  several 
years,  in  which  time  he  was  writing  on  the  subject,  by 
permission  of  the  governor.  ""j: 

With  regard  to  the  history  of  the  war,  from  the  first 
thereof  till  the  last  of  December,  1812,  (which  was  the 
time  I  left  the  province  by  permission)  I  know  tb  be  true. 
What  relates  to  its  progress  since  that  time,  I  have  care* 
fully  taken  from  the  public  papers,  received  at  New- York, 
to  the  21st  of  Aug.  and  should  there  be  another  edition 
printed,  it  will  still  be  enlarged  with  the  continuation  of 
the  history  of  the  war. 

And  further  I  will  remaik,  that  1  am  a  firm  friend  of  my 
native  country,  the  United  States  ;*  in  consideration  of 
which,  I  left  the  province  of  Upper  Canada,  where  I  was 
settled  with  my  family,  and  all  the  property  I  had  in  the 
world,  rather  than  fight  against  my  countrymen. 

•  Frfym  Pennsylvania. 


# ' 


■i 

i 

■  ■ 


to  the 
ions  of 
ith  con? 

t  down 
he  last 
IS  been 
author 
regard 
part  is 
correct 
several 
ect,  by 

he  first 
as  the 

e  true. 

e  care- 
York, 

edition 

f  ion  of 

iofmy 

Ition  of 

I  was 

in  the 


CONTlfiNTS. 


;? 


PART  I. 

Description  of  the  District  of  London, 
Terms  of  obtaining  land  in  Middlerex  county, 

PART  n. 
General  Remarks  on  the  Geographical  State  of 

whole  Province. — Situation  and  Extent, 
Soil  and  Surface,        -        -        - 
Natural  Production,       *     ** - 

Agriculture, 

Climate,       -        - 

Commerce,       -        -        ..        • 

Animals, 

Fish,        -        -        -        - 

Mines  and  Minerals,       .... 

Lakes,     -        -        - 

Rivers,  -        -        -        -        -        - 

Indians,  -        -        -        - 

Villages,       -'       - 

Settlements, 

Civil  Divisions,      -        -        -        - 
Districts, 

King's  Roads, 

Bearing  and  Distances  of  Places, 
Population,       -  -        -        -        - 

Learning,      -        -        -        -        •     $  - 
Morals,  -        -        -        -        - 

Religion, 

Diversions,       -        -        •         -        -  .     - 

Manufactures, 

Promiscuous  Remarks  on  the  Government,    - 

APPENDIX. 
Description  of  Niagara  Fails, 
Remark*  relative  to  the  war  in  the  province. 


Page. 

5 

-  16 


the 


18 

19 

22 

23  ^ 

23 

25 

26 

28 

30  • 

31 

39 

43 

47 

52 

53 

54 

50 

60 

61 

61 

62 

63 

66 

67 

68 

72 

82 


4 


jA 


